Centum oratores augusta ad moenia regis tione mittenda hodieque servatur," Serv. number 100. 153.] Oratores,' 8. 505., 11. 100, 331. It was an old Roman word for an ambassador: see Varro L. L. 7. 3, § 41, where Ennius is quoted, Cic. 2 Legg. 9. Moenia regis,' Laurentum, v. 63. 154.] "Velati ramis oleae" 11. 101. The expression seems parallel to iKTηplois Kλádoιow éεeσтEμμévoι Soph. O. T. 3, which is now generally understood as = κλάδους ¿EσTEμμÉVOUS EXOVTES. The token of peace was an olive-branch borne in the hand, 8. 116, 128., 11. 333, sometimes wreathed with wool (8. 128). To this wreathing ἐξεστεμμένοι is generally understood to refer: and the same may be the case with 'velatos.' "Velamenta" is the regular term for tokens of supplication, Livy 24. 30., 29. 16., 30. 36., 35. 34, cited by Lersch § 52, and Plaut. Amph. 1. 1. 101 has "velatis manibus orant." But the "velatio" may be merely the covering afforded by the leaves of the boughs: an interpretation which would agree with some words in Livy 30. 36, "velata infulis ramisque oleae Carthaginiensium occurrit navis," and with the use of "velare" in Virg. (note on 2. 249). There is a sort of parallel ambiguity in the Greek use of orépos &c.: see Conington on Aesch. Cho. 95. Rami Palladis,' G. 2. 181. 155.] Dona:' comp. 11. 333. 'Viro' seems added to bring out the honour intended to Latinus. 'Pacem exposcere,' 3.261. Pacem' to be taken strictly, not, as Heyne, i. q. "foedus et amicitiam." Landing as strangers on the coast, they VOL. III. 155 160 were liable, according to the practice of 157.] For the custom of solemnly tracing out the site of cities comp. 5. 755 note. Humili,' shallow. Tac. A. 1. 61 has "humili fossa," and Pliny Ep. 8. 20. 5 “humili radice." Comp. the double sense of "altus." This first settlement, distinct from Lavinium, was part of the common version of the legend: see Lewis p. 332. According to Cato ap. Serv. and Livy 1. 1 it bore the name of Troia. 6 158.] Molitur locum,' breaks ground, by digging entrenchments and foundation. Comp. G. 1. 494, "Agricola incurvo terram molitus aratro." 'Moliri' is used for the same thing above v. 127. Primas' of the first settlement, not, as Heyne, i. q. "primo litore," on the edge of the shore. So "prima tecta" v. 127 above. 159.] Castrorum in morem,' i. e. like a Roman camp, with its fossa, agger, and vallum, and its internal divisions and arrangements, including the praetorium in the centre, 9. 230. The site chosen also seems to have been one which a Roman strategist would have approved, the camp being defended on one side and at the same time supplied with water by the river. See Lersch § 44. Virg.'s castrimetation, like his discipline and tactics, is that of his own, not of the heroic age. 'Pinnae' are taken by Lersch as i. q. "vallum;" they are distinguished from "vallum" however by Caes. B. G. 7. 72 (comp. ib. 5. 40), and appear from Varro L. L.5.142 (Müller) to have been the battlements of a wall or parapet. Mr. Long thinks that as Virg. does not mention the "vallum" he means the 'pinnae' to include all that is placed on the 'agger.' 160-194.] The ambassadors arrive, and are admitted to an audience of king Latinus, who is sitting in an ancient temple, adorned with figures of his divine and human ancestors.' 160.] Iter emensi,' 11. 244. 'Turris с Ardua cernebant iuvenes, muroque subibant. 165 Tectum augustum, ingens, centum sublime columnis, 170 ac tecta,' 12. 132. Et tecta' is' here the first reading of Med. and Gud. For Latinorum' Med. from a correction and others have Latini,' obviously a change to get rid of the hypermeter: see on v. 237 below, 6. 33. So some give 'Latinum.' 'Latinorum' is supported by Serv., as well as by Med. originally, Pal., Rom. &c. 161.] Muroque subibant,' 9. 371, where as here there is a reading 'murosque,' supported here by Rom. Serv. distinctly acknowledges the dative. Comp. 3. 292. Wagn. makes a doubtful distinction between "subire loco," to approach, and "subire locum," to enter a place. Gud. has a variant propinquant.' 162.] This picture was probably suggested by the Campus Martius: but there was a similar public ground for exercise (πpoаoτelov) before other cities. Heyne comp. Hesiod, Shield 285, Tol & a "poTápolle óλnos Nŵ0° lππwv ét¡ßávres ἐθύνεον. the bees. Here 163.] "Exercentur agris," G. 4. 159, of equis' is abl. instr. Elsewhere (v. 782 below) the man is said to exercise the horses. Currus: the car is said to be broken in, as in G. 1. 514, not to hear the reins. So 12. 287, "Infrenant alii currus." 164, 5.] Virg. first enumerates the several parties, aut-aut' (comp. G. 4. 167), then passes into a description of the various occupations of the whole, 'que-que.' "Intendunt acris arcus" 9. 665. The epithet seems nearly="durus," but with a greater notion of activity, as if the bow had an energy of its own. Perhaps a contrast is intended with lenta spicula' ("lenta hastilia" 11. 650., 12. 489), the darts being regarded as passive and owing their force to the arm that bends them. Lenta' itself would most naturally mean flexible. 'Contorquent,' 12. 490., 2. 52 note. Ictu' is commonly explained = "iaculatione," after Serv., denoting aiming at a mark : but it might equally well stand for boxing, of which "icere" is used (comp. 5. 377, 428, 444, 457, 459), and tautology would thus be avoided. Lacessunt (alius alium) cursu' like "provocare beneficio," "bello." So "contendere cursu." 166, 167.] Cum' refers to 'iamque' v. 160, the words 'ante-lacessunt' being parenthetical. As they approached the city, one of the party of youths whom they found exercising before the walls galloped off to announce their arrival.' Wagn. thinks that 're' in 'reportat' and similar words denotes the representation or repetition by the messenger of what he has seen or heard; but it seems more natural to say that the words were originally applied to one sent to fetch tidings, and thence to all who brought tidings, whether they had been sent to fetch them or not. Praevectus' riding in advance of the rest. Ad auris' with 'reportat.' "Referatis ad auris" E. 3. 73. On ingentis' Serv. remarks, "Ex stupore nuntii laus ostenditur Troianorum: et bene novitatis ostendit opinionem: ingentis enim esse quos primum vidimus opinamur." In veste,' 4. 518. 168.] Intra tecta vocari Inperat:' comp. 1. 520, "Postquam introgressi et coram data copia fandi." Tecta' is explained by v. 170. 169.] Solio avito,' as well as 'regia Pici,' seems inconsistent with v. 61 foll., where Latinus himself is made the founder of Laurentum. 'Medius'="mediis tectis." Comp. 1. 505 note. The description there, where Dido receives the Trojans in the temple, is closely parallel to this. 170.] This edifice combines the temple and the senate-house. Virg. has also employed it as a sort of museum of Roman antiquities. Some have thought that he had in his mind the temple of Apollo built by Augustus close to his own house on the Palatine, where he often convoked the Senate. Embassies in particular were con Urbe fuit summa, Laurentis regia Pici, stantly received in temples, especially in that of Bellona, which was outside the walls, Livy 30. 21, Festus s. v. "Senacula." See Lersch § 15. 'Augustus' (connected with "augurium ") is nearly equivalent to "sanctus," Ov. F. 1.609. "Sublimibus alta columnis" Ov. M. 2. 1. 171.] Urbe summa,' év τ àкроwóλει, for which v TÓλEι ȧKротáтη occurs Il. 22.172. Some inferior MSS. and Diomedes p. 498 read media,' from 1. 441. Regia,' his hall of state, where he sate as king. 172.] Silvis,' the sacred grove round the temple. For such groves round temples in cities comp. 1. 441., 9. 86. Horrendum silvis et religione parentum' is equivalent to "cinctum silvis horrendis et religiosis," 'religione' probably referring to the awful antiquity of the grove. So on 8. 598, lucus-religione patrum late sacer." For 'horrendum comp. Lucan 3. 411, "Arboribus suus horror inest." , 6 173, 174.] Primos' is for "primum." 'Attollere fasces,' to have the fasces raised or borne before them. Comp. the opposite phrase "submittere fasces." 'Omen erat, it was a custom without observing which the reign would not have commenced auspiciously: not merely, it was a lucky thing to do it. . Here each king, as he would have a happy reign, assumed the sceptre and the fasces.' The assumption of the sceptre and fasces would of course be the coronation of a Roman king. 'Hic' is the emphatic word: the coronation, to be auspicions, was to take place here. · 175 Inscr. p. 11 ed. 1699, a reference suggested by Mr. Long), opposed to the triclinia." The practice appears to be primitive, as well as 'considere' instead of "accumbere." Ov. F. 6. 305, " Ante focos olim scamnis considere longis Mos erat, et mensae credere adesse deos." There seems no need to suppose an allusion to the daily entertainment of privileged persons as in a Prytaneum the reference is rather to an occasional sacrificial banquet. : 177.] Ex ordine,' in a row, between the pillars of the portico. They are not in the order of succession. See vv. 45 foll. Professor Seeley, Introduction to Livy p. 19, notices this passage as a remarkable instance of Euhemerism: the gods of Italy being identified with ancient kings. 178.] The reading before Heins. was 'ex cedro.' Some copies leave out the preposition. Wood was the material of statues before marble, and cedar was chosen as the most durable wood. "Tunc melius tenuere fidem cum paupere cultu Stabat in exigua ligneus aede deus " Tibull. 1. 10. 19. Mr. Long refers to Pausanias 8. 17. 2, τοῖς δὲ ἀνθρώποις τὸ ἀρχαῖον, ὁπόσα καὶ ἡμεῖς καταμαθεῖν ἐδυνήθημεν, τοσάδε ἦν ἀφ ̓ ὧν τὰ ξόανα ἐποιοῦντο, ἔβενος, κυπάρισσος, αἱ κέδροι, τὰ δρύινα, ἡ σμίλαξ, 8 Awrós. This mixture of the eponyms and gods of different races, Italus, Sabinus, Saturnus, Janus, goes to prove that Virg. was rather a lover of antiquity than an accurate antiquarian, as some have considered him. Italus has been referred to 1. 533: see further Lewis vol. 1. pp. 276–279. Sabinus, according to Cato ap. Dionys. H. 2. 49, was the son of Sancus, who is generally identified with the "dius Fidius." The hiatus after cedro' is Greek. 175.] For 'hae' Rom. has haec,' which may be plural. Sacrae epulae,' otherwise "epulum," a banquet given in honour of a god, to attend to which was the business of the "epulones." "Ariete caeso,' after the sacrifice. 'Perpetuis mensis' is explained by Heyne as long tables, at which they sat in an unbroken row (comp. "perpetui tergo bovis" 8. 183, "perpetuas ollas," a continuous row of "ollae in a Roman tomb, Fabretti 179.] Vitisator' is applied to Bacchus in a fragment of Attius quoted by Macrob. Sat. 6. 5. "Vitis sator" Lucr. 2. 1168. The pruning-hook is elsewhere the familiar attribute of Saturn, G. 2. 406, and Peerlkamp wishes to re-arrange the passage so Saturnusque senex Ianique bifrontis imago, as to invest him with it here. But the 180. For Saturnus and Janus see Dict. M. 181.] This and what follows open a vista of previous history far more extensive than what is sketched in vv. 45 foll. It is probably not without reference to the feelings of Augustus that Virg. gave this picture of national and patriotic glory and senatorial dignity under a monarchical rule. Ab origine,' 1. 642. Comp. the word "Aborigines." 182.] This line is nearly a repetition of 6. 660, "Hic manus ob patriam pugnando volnera passi." Martiaque' fragm. Vat. (2nd reading), Pal., Rom., Gud., Martia qui' fragm. Vat. (1st reading), Med. Comp. 6. 772. The former reading is more harmonious and better suited to the sense, distinguishing the warriors from the kings, who seem to have been mainly peaceful. With Martia volnera' comp. Αρηίφατος. 183.] Sacris in postibus arma.' Comp. 3. 287., 5. 360. In postibus' = "in foribus." 184.] Captivi pendent currus.' The ancient chariots were so light that Diomed (II. 10. 505) thinks of carrying off that of Rhesus on his shoulder. Captivi' of things 2. 765. The 'securis,' battleaxe, was the weapon of Asiatic nations ("Amazonia securis Hor. 4 Od. 4. 20) and of the primitive nations of Europe, in whose barrows it is often found. It is the weapon of the Italian shepherds, below v. 510., 12. 306, and of Camilla 11. 696. 'Curvae' from the shape of the axe-head. 185.] Cristae capitum' like "iubas capitis" 9. 638. Portarum,' the gates of captured cities. Claustra portarum' ="portae." 180 185 186.]Ereptaque rostra carinis.' It is remarked that these naval spoils are an anachronism: though Hector (II. 9. 241) threatens to cut off the axрa kóрvμßа of the Greek ships. Heyne thinks they are taken from pirate ships destroyed on the coast. The house of Pompey was decorated with the beaks of ships captured in his war against the pirates, Cic. Phil. 2. 28. "Tribulaque traheaeque' G. 1. 164, where, as here, the double letter helps the ictus in lengthening the syllable. See Excursus on Book 12. 187, 188.] Heyne is probably right in taking succinctus trabea et lituo' as a zeugma, though it is a strong one. Forb. considers Quirinali lituo' as an abl. of quality, or an attributive abl. Virg. may have intended the latter construction to help out the former. Romulus was an augur, and founded the city by help of the art. Hence the lituus (augur's staff or crook) is called 'Quirinalis." Ov. F. 6. 375, "lituo pulcher trabeaque Quirinus." But the epithet comes in rather strangely here. Gossrau wishes to take Quirinali of Mars, comp. Dion. H. 2. 48, supposing Virg. to refer to some unknown story which associated the lituus' with Mars. He remarks that the pie into which Picus was turned is known as "picus Martius " (Pliny 10. 18, Ov. F. 3. 37), and that Picus is represented as a Salian priest with the ancile.' The trabea,' a toga with horizontal stripes of purple, was the garment both of the kings and of augurs, though it seems to have been purple and white for the kings, purple and saffron for augurs. The epithet parva' probably refers to the scanty size of the primitive, compared with the more luxurious, toga. For the ancilia, see Dict. A. ་ 189.] Equum domitor' is the Homeric inmódauos. Picus is called "utilium bello studiosus equorum" Ov. M. 14. 321, in the story of Circe's love for him, and ib. 343 Aurea percussum virga versumque venenis 190 Dicite, Dardanidae, neque enim nescimus et urbem 195 Et genus, auditique advertitis aequore cursum, Quid petitis? quae caussa rates, aut cuius egentis he is represented as on horseback. Circe appears from Ov. 1. c. to have been only in love with Picus, and to have turned him into a bird because he preferred the nymph Canens. But possibly Virg.'s view of the legend may not have been exactly the same as Ovid's. Otherwise we may take 'capta cupidine coniunx' closely together, i. q. "capta cupidine coniugii " like "coniugis amore "E. 8. 18. 190.] In Od. 10. 234 foll. Circe first gives her victims a magic potion and then strikes them with her wand. They are restored by the external application of another drug, v. 392. With 'versum venenis' comp. Hor. Epod. 5.87," Venena magnum fas nefasque non valent convertere humanam vicem." Aurea,' dissyllable, 1. 698. Nothing is said in Hom. of the material of Circe's rod. Virg. may have thought of 'Epuñs xpvoóßpanis, who tells Odysseus about Circe Od. v. 277, and is mentioned by Circe herself v. 331. Serv. makes 'aurea' nominative. 191.] 'Avem,' the picus Martius (see on vv. 187, 8), an important bird in augury. Sparsitque coloribus alas' i. q. "dedit ei alas sparsas coloribus." See Ov. M. 14. 393 foll., and comp. E. 2. 41, "sparsis pellibus albo." On 192.] Intus' is generally taken as a preposition for " in :" but Hand 3. 447 cites no clear case of such a use of 'intus.' the other hand 'intus' is frequently used within' pleonastically, which rather excludes the idea of its being used for it. It seems best therefore to understand 'templo' as "in templo," and to regard 'intus' as pleonastic. Munro on Lucr. 4. 1091 cites the present passage along with several from Lucr. and one from Livy appa rently as instances of intus' with abl.: but in all of them with the partial exception of the present 'intus' comes after its case, and may very well be understood adverbially. Patria sede'="solio avito" v. 169. It is coupled by 'que' to 'tali templo; or the whole clause 'patria sedens' is coupled with tali templo,' not unlike "extremus galeaque ima subsedit Acestes" 5. 498. "In 193.] Vocavit' by a messenger. tra tecta vocari Inperat" v. 168. 194.]" Placido ore " 11. 251, of Diomed. 195-211.] Latinus asks the Trojans what they want, offers them hospitality, and remembers that Dardanus, their deified ancestor, originally came from Italy.' 195.] Neque followed by "et" or "que" is not uncommon even in prose; Cic. 2 Cat. 13, " Perficiam ut neque bonus quisquam intereat, paucorumque poena vos omnes iam salvi esse possitis." See Freund, 'neque.' It is not clear whether Latinus means that he had heard of Troy by fame, like Dido, or that he had heard that these strangers were the Trojans. In the latter case we must understand advertitis aequore cursum' rather widely, the thing meant being 'ye have landed on our shores:' though it is conceivable that news of their coming may have been received e. g. from Cumae. Comp. however v. 167. Urbem et genus:' comp. Dido's words 1. 565, "Quis genus Aeneadum, quis Troiae nesciat urbem?" 'Auditi,' heard of, like "audire magnos iam videor duces" Hor. 2 Od. 1. 21.Aequore,' over the sea, 5. 862. Cursus,' the reading before Heins., is found in none of Ribbeck's MSS. 197.] Virg. probably had in his eye the queries addressed to strangers on landing in Hom. Od. 3.71 foll., 9. 257 foll., though he has, for obvious reasons, omitted the mention of piracy. 'Quae caussa rates, aut cuius egentis vexit' is a confused expression made up of "qua de caussa aut cuius egentes rates vectae sunt" and 66 quae caussa aut cuius egestas vexit." Had critics dealt with the text of Virg. as they have dealt with that of the Greek dramatists, 'egestas' would doubtless have been substituted. Cuius egentis' asks more definitely what has been asked more generally by "quae caussa." |