710.] Amiternum (Dict. G. s. v.), the birthplace of Sallust, was assigned by some to the Sabines, by some to the Vestini. As Heyne remarks, Virg., writing about legendary times, gives a somewhat wider range to the Sabine territory than belonged to it in the historical period. 'Quirites,' the people of Cures. "Sabinorum Amiternini, Curenses. . . Nursini, Nomentani Trebulani qui cognominantur Mutusci." Pliny 3. 12 (17). 711.] Eretum, though occasionally mentioned in history, never seems to have been a place of importance (Dict. G.). Mutuscae' seems to be gen. sing. The full name was Trebula Mutusca. There are still olives in the neighbourhood (Dict. G.). 712.] Nomentum, already mentioned 6. 773, where it is among the places afterwards to be built and named by Aeneas' posterity. It is disputed whether it was a Latin or Sabine town. The passage in Book 6 favours the former view, making it a colony from Alba. 'Rosea: the country in the valley of the river Velinus, about Reate, was called "Rosei" "Roseae") "Campi" (according to Serv. "ager Rosulanus"): see Dict. G. Reate. For a story about its fertility see on G. 2. 201, 202. Pal. and Gud. have 'Roscia,' and some inferior copies 'roscida :' comp. Pliny 3. 12 (17), (Sabini) "Velinos accolunt lacus, roscidis collibus."

(or

713.] Tetrica or Tetricus seems to have been part of the central range of the Apennines, separating the Sabine territory from Picenum. Severus, which no other author mentions, doubtless belongs to the same range (Dict. G.). Cerda notices that both names are used as adjectives and applied as such to describe the traits belonging to the Sabine character. Pal. and Gud. have amnemque severum (the latter with a variant montem') from a recollection of 6. 374. 'Horrentis' probably gen. sing.

714.] Casperia and Himella are scarcely named except by Virg. and Silius. Foruli

710

715

is somewhat better known, being mentioned by Livy and Strabo (Dict. G. s. vv.).

715.] Fabaris is identified by Serv. with Farfarus, mentioned by Plautus and Ovid, and still known as Farfa (Dict. G.).

716.] Nursia, called 'frigida' from its situation in the midst of mountains, is mentioned several times both in early and later history. Shortly before the time of the composition of the Aeneid its inhabitants were punished by Octavianus for their conduct during the Perusian war (Dict. G.). There is a difficulty about Hortinae classes,' as the town of Horta stood on the Etruscan side of the Tiber, and the adj. would naturally be "Hortanus" (Dict. G. Horta '). Possibly there may be some confusion with the Fortineii, who are enumerated by Dionys. 5. 61 among the cities of the Latin league, and are identified by some with the Hortenses, perhaps the people of Ortona, mentioned in Pliny's list (3. 5 &c.), of the extinct communities of Latium. Comp. "foedus," "hoedus," "fordus," "hordus" &c. This would agree with the mention of the "populi Latini' here, and would not be inconsistent with the occurrence of Allia in the next line. Populi Latini' seems used very loosely, as we can hardly suppose that Virg. means to introduce at one sweep all the communities which partook in the sacrifices at the Alban mount, which is apparently Serv.'s explanation. Excursus 8, following Cluver, understands the expression either of Latin cities which had fallen under the dominion of the Sabines or Latin colonies established in the Sabine territory. It is possible, however, as has been suggested to me by Mr. Nettleship, that Virg. may be referring to some community of which the memory has perished, as certain Latinienses follow the Hortenses in Pliny's list just referred to: if so, Latini' may perhaps be the gen. of Latinium.' "Latiniensia vina," from another region, are mentioned Pliny 14. 6 (8); so the existence of such aname is not impossible. Classes' in its

Heyne,

ancient sense, according to which the word was applied to military as well as naval forces: see Dictt.

717.] Allia is well known for the defeat of the Romans by the Gauls under Brennus, on July 16, hence called "dies Alliensis," and kept as an unlucky day.

718.] "Quam multa" in a comparison G. 4. 473. Libyco marmore' perhaps like "Libyci aequoris" G. 2. 105, where see note. The comparison is like the second of the two in G. 2. 1. c. Perhaps Virg. is thinking here of Il. 2. 143 foll. where the movement in the assembly is compared to the motion first of the sea, then of a cornfield, under the breath of a wind.

719.] From Apoll. R. 1. 1201, Te μάλιστα Χειμερίη ὀλοοῖο δύσις πέλει 'Apiwvos. For the storms about the setting of Orion comp. Hor. 1 Od. 28. 21., 3. 27.

17.

720.] Strictly speaking the construction is "aut quam multae aristae cum sole novo densae torrentur," but as 'densae' really does duty for "multae," we may say that Virg. expresses himself as if the comparison in v. 718 had been introduced by "ac veluti,”“quales,” or some similar form. Heyne, after Faber and others, at one time conj. quam' for 'cum,' and so an edition of 1495: and one MS. (not one of Ribbeck's number) has 'quot.' 'Sole novo' would naturally mean either the early morning (G. 1. 288) or the early warm weather (G. 2. 332): but it is difficult to see why either of these should be represented as baking the ears of corn, as we should rather have expected the "maturi soles" (G. 1. 66) of summer. Perhaps it may mean an Eastern sun,' like "sole recenti" Pers. 5. 54, the countries being spoken of relatively to Italy.

721.] For the fertility of Lydia comp. 10. 141. Heyne doubts that of Lycia: but see Dict. G. Lycia' § 2.

722.] 'Scuta' is the only hint given us of the arms of Clausus' forces. The rest

720

of the line is from Il. 2.784, tŵv ind woσol μέγα στεναχίζετο γαῖα. For conterrita' the Medicean of Pierius and another of his MSS., with some inferior copies, read tremit excita,' which is found in 12. 445, where these words recur. In itself it might be an improvement, but the authority is insufficient and the cause of the variation clear. The construction is doubtless 'scuta sonant tellusque (sonat) pulsu pedum conterrita,' as against Wagn. (large ed.) and others who make 'conterrita' a finite verb. Med. has 'cursu for 'pulsu.'

723-732.] Halaesus brings troops from the Auruncan and Oscan territories.'

723.] Hinc' apparently means 'next,' though Forb. understands it "ex hac (alia) parte.” 'Agamemnonius:' Serv. says that Halaesus was variously represented as the bastard son and as the companion of Agamemnon. Virg. can hardly have considered him the former, unless he is inconsistent with himself 10. 417 foll., where he speaks of Halaesus' father in language that could not apply to Agamemnon. The epithet may well be used loosely, just as the Trojans are called "Aeneadae." Whether any extant author speaks of Halaesus as Agamemnon's son is questionable. Ovid, who mentions him twice (3 Amor. 13. 31 foll., F. 4. 73 foll.), is not more express than Virg., unless we read "Atrides" with Heins. in the latter passage. Ov. makes him the founder of Falerii (for the etymology see on v. 716 above), which is inconsistent with Virg. Troiani nominis 'like nomen Latinum."

724.] 'Curru iungit Halaesus equos' like "Armentarius Afer agit" G. 3. 344, an abnormal rhythm adopted for variety's sake (see Munro, Lucr. vol. 1. p. 309, 3rd ed.). Cerda, after Scaliger, fancifully supposes that it is intended to express the time taken in harnessing a chariot. no' for Turnus.' 66 Populosque ferocis," above v. 384., 1. 263, of Italian nations.

Tur

740

737.] Tenebat' Med., Pal., Gud., the last with a variant 'premebat:' but 'tenebat' could not stand with 'teneret' so near, and the word obviously came from 1. 622 (comp. ib. 236). "Dicione premat " 10. 53.

738.] The Sarrastes are unknown to history: but Serv. refers to a work on Italy by Conon for the statement that they were Pelasgian and other Greek emigrants who settled in Campania, and gave the river near which they took up their abode the name of Sarnus from a river in their own country. No Greek river is mentioned as bearing the name: nor is it known when Conon lived, though there were two or three writers so called (Dict. B. Conon'). For Sarnus see Dict. G., where it is said that the course of the river is not now what it was, having doubtless been changed by the eruption of Vesuvius which overthrew Herculaneum and Pompeii.

739.] Rufrae seems to have been a Samnite town on the borders of Campania. Batulum is only mentioned by Silius, and Celemna (sacred to Juno, according to Serv.) not even by him.

740.] Almost all the MSS. have 'Bellae,' which Serv. says was written by Virg. instead of 'Nolae' on account of his quarrel with the people of Nola, mentioned in G. 2. 225. Ribbeck adopted 'Bellae,' believing it to be the reading of all the MSS., but the discovery of Abellae' in one copy seems to have led him to alter his mind (Prolegomena p. 353). Serv. says that critics in his time read Abellae,' supposing it to be a case of synaloepha: and the change is one which might safely be made in the teeth of all external authority, the cause of corruption being of the commonest, and proper names especially liable to corruption. Abellae is five miles

745

N.E. of Nola. It was known for a particular kind of nut, filbert or hazel, called "nux Abellana." Sil. 8. 543 speaks of it as "pauper sulci Cerealis." There are remains of the old town on a hill, which accounts for 'despectant.' An inscription was discovered there, one of the most important remains of Oscan, recording a treaty between Abella and Nola (Dict. G. Abella').

741.] A change of construction like that in v. 729 above. The 'cateia,' according to Serv., was like the 'aclys' (v. 730). Isidorus 18. 7. 7, quoted by Lersch § 40, describes it similarly, except that he supposes that it returned of itself to the thrower, like an Australian boomerang. Papias ap. Lersch makes it a Persian word: later writers consider it Celtic (Dict. A. 'Cateia'), which would agree with Teutonico ritu,' the Celtae and Teutones being often confounded. Various mediaeval writers mention it (see Lersch), but differ as to whether it was a club or a spear. Sil. 3. 277 calls it "panda." Val. F. 6. 83 mentions it as the weapon of an Oriental nomad tribe.

742.] "Bene 'raptus' [i. e. raptim sublatus], quia recens suberis cortex in quamvis formam tota (nota ?) flectitur facilitate," Serv. Comp. the use of cork for beehives G. 4. 33.

743.] Micant,' co-ordinate with the verb subst. understood in the preceding line.