belong to their dominions, being "pelagi volucres." --Meritosque indicit honores. "And directs due sacrifices (to be offered up to them)." Meritos equivalent to debitos.—266. Placidi. "Rendered propitious.” 267. Diripere. "To tear." Denoting eagerness to be gone.-Excussosque laxare rudentes. "And to uncoil and ease the sheets." Rudentes are the ropes fastened at the bottom of the sail to its two corners, in Greek wódɛç. Before setting sail, these ropes, which our seamen call the sheets, would lie in a coil or bundle. In order, therefore, to depart, the first thing was to uncoil or unroll them (excutere); the next, to adjust them according to the direction of the wind and the aim of the voyage. With a view to fill the sail and make it expose the largest surface, they were let out, which was called immittere, or laxare. Laxate rudentes, among the Romans (Ovid, de Ponto, iv. 9, 73), was equivalent to "ease the sheets" with us. 270. Nemorosa. "Grove-crowned."-272. Scopulos Ithaca. Homer also calls Ithaca rocky, Koavaǹ '10áкŋ. (Il. iii. 201.)-Laertia. Laertes was the father of Ulysses.-274. Nimbosa cacumina, &c., et formidatus nautis, &c. "The cloudy summits," &c., "and (then) the temple of Apollo, dreaded by seamen, open on the view." Aperitur applies to both cacumina and Apollo, though, in grammatical strictness, cacumina has aperiuntur understood.-275. Apollo. The reference is to the temple of Apollo at Actium, not to that on the promontory of Leucate, and we must therefore regard the line Et formidatus, &c., as marking a progressive course. Hence Heyne supplies after et the words ulterius progressis, " to us having advanced beyond this." We have inserted the term "then," which answers just as well.-Formidatus nautis. The adjacent shore was rocky and dangerous. 276. Et parca succedimus urbi. "And approach the little city." The town of Actium is meant, off which in later days the famous sea-fight took place between Augustus and Antony. Virgil purposely alludes to this locality, in order to flatter Augustus, and with the same view makes mention of games having been instituted there by Eneas. These games, then, would be the precursors of those celebrated every five years, at Actium, by order of Augustus, after his victory over Antony.-277. Stant litore puppes. "The sterns stand on the shore." The prow being turned towards the deep, and the stern towards the land, the latter extremity is fixed upon the shore (stat litore). The prow remains in the deeper water, and therefore the anchor is thrown out to attach it to the ground. 66 278. Insperatá tandem tellure potiti. Having gained at length land we had despaired of reaching," i. e. land sufficiently remote to place them out of the reach of their Grecian foes. Compare lines 282, 283.-279. Lustramurque Jovi, &c. “We both perform a lustral sacrifice to Jove." The sacrifice was one of expiation for the attack on the Harpies.-Votis. "For the fulfilment of our vows." Some render this "with our offerings," taking rotum for the thing vowed.— 280. Actiaque Iliacis, &c. "And we render the Actian shores renowned by Trojan games." The common form of expression would be, "We celebrate Trojan games on the Actian shore: "Iliacos ludos Actio litore celebramus. Virgil, however, gives it a more poetic turn.-Iliacis ludis. Games are said to have been celebrated at Actium before the era of the naval victory; so that Augustus, in fact, merely re-established them. Virgil adroitly avails himself of the previous existence of these games, to ascribe their institution to Æneas, and thus connect them, from their very origin, with the Roman name. 281. Exercent patrias, &c. "My companions perform the gymnastic exercises of their native land, (anointed) with slippery oil." Among the ancients, the athletæ, or persons who contended at the games, had their bodies anointed with oil preparatory to their entering the palæstra. The chief object of this anointing was to close the pores of the body, in order to prevent much perspiration, and the weakness consequent thereon. To effect this object, the oil was not simply spread over the surface of the body, but was also well rubbed into the skin. The oil was mixed with fine African sand. 282. Evasisse tot urbes Argolicas, &c. Alluding to their whole voyage from Troy, but more especially to the portion from Crete to Actium.-283. Fugam tenuisse, i. e. to have made good our flight.284. Magnum sol circumvolvitur annum. "The sun rolls round the great year." The same as saying that the sun, by its revolution, completes the year. Magnum a mere ornamental epithet. It savours too much of trifling to make this term apply to the solar year as longer than the lunar. 286. Magni gestamen Abantis. "Once wielded by the mighty Abas." Abas appears to have been some distinguished chieftain among the Greek forces at Troy, unless we make him, what is far more probable, a mere poetical creation.-287. Postibus adversis. "On the confronting doorposts," i. e. on the doorposts fronting upon the view.-288. Eneas hæc, &c. Supply consecravit. In inscriptions of this kind the verb is frequently omitted. In Greek the form would simply be, Αἰνείας ἀπὸ τῶν Δαναῶν. We must not, as some do, regard this as a trophy put by Æneas for successes over the Greeks, since such successes had no existence, and a trophy would ill accord with the character of a fugitive. The offering is a purely votive one, and is meant as an expression of gratification on the part of Æneas for having been preserved from his foes. 289. Considere. "To take their seats in order."-291. Protinus aerias Phæacum, &c. "Forthwith we lose sight of the lofty summits of the Phæacians," i. e. we pass rapidly by, and soon lose sight of the island of Corcyra. One of the earlier names of this island was Phæacia.-Abscondimus. A nautical term, the very reverse of aperitur in line 275.-Arces, i. e. the mountain summits of Corcyra, and not, as some think, the two conical hills (ropvpú) of the city itself, from which the modern Greek name Korfo is supposed to be derived.-292. Portu Chaonio. The Pelodes portus, or "muddy haven," is here meant. It formed the outer bay and channel of Buthrotum. 66 294. Hic incredibilis rerum, &c. "Here an incredible report of occurrences engrosses our attention." Literally, "takes possession of our ears." Observe the peculiar force of occupat: "Seizes upon before any thing else can enter," engrosses," &c.-296. Conjugio Eacidæ, &c. Having become possessed of the wife and sceptre of Pyrrhus, the descendant of Eacus." The explanation of this is given at line 328. Pyrrhus, as well as his father, Achilles, were of the line of Eacus.-297. Patrio iterum cessisse marito. "Had again fallen to a husband of her native land." 299. Compellare. In place of the infinitive, the gerund (compellandi, cognoscendi) would be employed in prose.-Linquens. “Leaving behind me." 301. Solemnes tum forte, &c. "Andromache, by chance, was at that same moment offering up to the ashes (of her first husband) her yearly funereal banquet, and her mournful death-gifts, before the city, in a grove by the stream of a fictitious Simoïs, and was invoking his manes at the Hectorean tomb, which, a cenotaph of verdant turf, she had consecrated (unto him), and two altars (along with it), an incentive to tears." The Greeks and Romans were accustomed to visit the tombs of their relatives at certain periods, and to offer to them sacrifices and various gifts, which were called Inferia and Parentalia. The offerings consisted of victims, wine, milk, garlands of flowers, and other things. 302. Falsi Simoëntis. A stream which Helenus and Andromache had called the Simoïs, from the Trojan river of that name. (Compare line 349.)-304. Hectoreum ad tumulum, i. e. a tomb raised in honour of Hector, but not containing his remains. This last would be Hectoris tumulus.-Inanem. Equivalent to cenotaphium.-305. Et geminas, &c. Probably one was for Hector and one for Astyanax. Hence they are styled causam lacrymis, as reminding her of both her husband and son. 306. Ut. "As soon as."-Troïa arma, i. e. warriors arrayed in Trojan arms.-307. Amens. "In wild amazement."-Magnis monstris. "At these mighty wonders."-309. Labitur. "She sinks fainting (to earth)."-310. Verane te facies, &c. Literally, "dost thou, a true appearance, a true messenger, bring thyself unto me?" i. e. art thou really he whom thou appearest to be (vera facies), and whom thou sayest that thou art (verus nuncius). 311. Aut si lux alma recessit, &c. "Or, if the genial light (of life) hath departed from thee, oh (tell me), where is my Hector?" i. e. or, if thou belongest to the world of the dead, oh tell me, where is my Hector in the regions below? 313. Vix pauca furenti, &c. "With difficulty do I (in the intervals of her grief), utter a few words of reply to her raving wildly; and, deeply agitated, I stand with parted lips, and speak in interrupted accents." Subjicio is not exactly the same as respondeo. It means that Æneas is only able to utter a few words here and there, as the grief of Andromache lulls for the instant. He stands ready to speak, with distended lips (hisco); but, partly from his own agitation (turbatus), partly from the violent grief of Andromache, he can only utter a few words at intervals (raræ coces). 317. Heu, quis te casus, &c. i. e. what is now your condition, after having lost your Hector? Is it in any respect such as it ought to be? -Dejectam conjuge tanto. "Deprived of so great a husband." Dejectam equivalent to privatam. 319. Hectoris Andromache, &c. "Hector's Andromache, art thou the wife of Pyrrhus?" Heyne thinks that there is something wrong in this line, because Æneas has already heard that Andromache is united to Helenus. Wagner defends it, as more of an exclamation of sorrow than a real interrogation. "Hast thou, once the wife of Hector, come into the possession of Pyrrhus, both an enemy and a far inferior man!" According to this view of the subject, Æneas pur. posely conceals his knowledge respecting her third union with Helenus, and merely contrasts Pyrrhus with Hector. It may be added, in confirmation of Wagner's opinion, that the words quæ digna satis fortuna revisit prepare us for this allusion to Pyrrhus. Pyrrhin. For Pyrrhine. Heyne and others read Pyrrhin', which is objectionable, since there is no actual apostrophe in Pyrrhin', coming before connubia. Pyrrhin, on the other hand, is an old contracted form.-Connubia sercas. Equivalent, merely, to matrimonio juncta es.-320. Dejecit vultum, &c. Sir Uvedale Price remarks, "The very look of the speaker is imaged to us, and the true tone of voice indicated in this affecting picture of Andromache, when she hears from the cold blooded Æneas the unfeeling and unfounded reproach.' This fling at the Trojan hero is all wrong. If we read Pyrrhi, there is reproach in what Æneas says; but Pyrrhin is the language of one who does not believe, or appears not to believe, what he has heard. Hence, too, Heyne is in error when he doubts whether Virgil ever employed the n' in this case. 321. O felix una, &c. "O especially happy before (all) others, the virgin daughter of Priam!" Alluding to Polyxena, who was immolated on the tomb of Achilles. As regards the peculiar force of una here, consult note on ii. 326.-322. Troje sub moenibus altis. Euripides lays the scene of this on the coast of the Thracian Chersonese.-323. Que sortitus non pertulit, &c. "Who endured no castings of lot (for her person)." Alluding to the custom, common in Homer and the tragic writers, of distributing the captives as well as other booty by lot. 325. Nos, patriâ incensâ, &c. "We, after our country had become a prey to the flames, having been carried over various seas, (and) having brought forth in servitude, endured the contumely of the race of Achilles, and the haughty youth," i. e. we were compelled to endure the haughty contumely of Pyrrhus, fit scion, in this, at least, of the arrogant stock of Achilles.-327. Enixa. Andromache, during her servitude, became the mother of a son named Molossus. Qui deinde secutus, &c. "Who, afterward, having sought the Ledæan Hermione, and Spartan nuptials, made over to Helenus, his slave, me, a slave myself also, to be possessed (by him),” i. e. to be held as his wife.-Ledoam Hermionen. Hermione was the daughter of Menelaus and Helen, and, consequently, the granddaughter of Leda.-329. Famulamque is equivalent to famulam et ipsam, or quæ et ipsa famula eram. 331.-Ereptæ conjugis. Hermione had been promised in marriage to Orestes, but was given to Pyrrhus.-331. Scelerum Furiis. The Furies were sent to punish Orestes for the murder of his mother Clytemnestra.-332. Excipit incautum. Literally, "catches off his guard."-Patrias ad aras. The scene of this assassination, according to some, was at Delphi, where Pyrrhus had erected altars to his father Achilles, and on which he was offering a sacrifice at the time. The altars were raised in the temple itself, according to Servius, who also states that this was done by him in insult to Apollo, his father having been slain in the Thymbrean temple of the god. Another account transfers the scene to Phthia in Thessaly. Com 333. Regnorum reddita cessit, &c. "A part of his realms, having been given over to, came into the hands of Helenus, who called the plains Chaonian by name, and the whole country Chaonia," &c.334. Cognomine. A name superadded to some previous one. pare note on line 350, "Xanthi cognomine ricum."-336. Pergamaque Iliacamque, &c. "And added a Pergamus, and this Trojan citadel to the mountain-tops." Observe the force of hanc, "this citadel here," pointing to it. 339. Quid puer Ascanius? "How fares the boy Ascanius ?" Literally," what is the boy Ascanius doing?" Supply agit. Et vescitur aurâ, &c. "And does she (too) breathe the vital air? who unto thee when Troy now-" The common text has a comma after superatne, and a mark of interrogation after aurâ, making the whole line refer to Ascanius. In the next line, moreover, it has quem instead of que, again referring to the son of Æneas. We have adopted the excellent emendation of Wagner, which makes the words from et vescitur aurâ contain a new interrogation, and relate to Creüsa. It seems very improbable that Andromache would confine her inquiries to Ascanius; and, therefore, according to the new reading, she begins to ask also about Creüsa, but stops suddenly on perceiving Æneas make a sign of sorrow, by which she discovers that he has lost the partner of his bosom. The sense thereupon is left suspended, and in the next line she resumes her inquiries about Ascanius. The presence of tamen in this latter line confirms the view that has been taken of the imperfect hemistich. Thus, for example, Andromache, after stopping short, and concluding from the manner of Æneas that his wife is no more, subjoins, in the following line, "Does the boy, however, feel the loss of his parent?" 340. Quæ tibi jam Trojâ, &c. The view which we have taken of this verse makes it probable that Virgil left the line purposely incomplete. Some commentators, however, suggest various modes of completing it. Thus, for example: Quem tibi jam Troja peperit fumante Creusa. All of these are bad enough. Heyne, unjustly however, suspects the 340th and 341st lines of being spurious. "Do 341. Ecqua tamen puero, &c. "Does the boy, however, feel any concern for his lost mother ?"-342. Ecquid in antiquam, &c. both his father, Æneas, and his uncle, Hector, arouse him to the valour of his line and to manly courage ?"-Antiquam virtutem. Literally, "ancient courage." Equivalent, in fact, however, to virtutem majorum.-343. Avunculus. Creüsa, the mother of Ascanius, was the sister of Hector. 344. Longosque ciebat, &c. "And to no purpose was giving vent to copious floods of tears," i. e. and was shedding many and unavailing tears.-345. A moenibus. "From the city," i. e. on the road leading from the city.-347. Suos. "His countrymen."-348. Et multum lacrymas, &c. "And pours forth tears in abundance," &c. Multum, equivalent to the Homeric Toλλóv, or the Latin adverbs valde, admodum, &c. 349. Simulataque magnis, &c. "And a Pergamus assimilated to the great one," i. e. built in imitation of its great prototype. Supply Pergamis after magnis.-350. Et arentem, &c. "And a scanty stream with the name of Xanthus." Cognomen, a name superadded to a previous one. Here the cognomen of Xanthus was given to a stream, which had been previously called by some other name in the language of the country.-351. Scoæque amplector, &c. " And I embrace the threshold of a Scæan gate," i. e. after the manner of returned exiles. 353. Porticibus. Galleries," i. e. of the palace. The king received and entertained the great body of the Trojans (illos) in the spacious galleries. The more select banquet took place in the hall around which the galleries ran.-354. Aulaï in medio, &c. The poet 66 S |