Page images
PDF
EPUB

Te liquidi flevere lacus.

760

Ibat et Hippolyti proles pulcherrima bello, Virbius, insignem quem mater Aricia misit, Eductum Egeriae lucis humentia circum Litora, pinguis ubi et placabilis ara Dianae. Namque ferunt fama Hippolytum, postquam arte novercae Occiderit patriasque explerit sanguine poenas

[ocr errors]

761-782.] Virbius, son of Hippolytus, comes from Aricia to join the allies.'

761.] The story of Hippolytus' reappearance as Virbius is told twice by Ovid, M. 15. 497 foll., and more shortly F. 6. 737 foll. Serv., who repeats it, shows some impatience towards the end at the inconsistency of Hippolytus' celibate life with his being made the father of a son, "adeo omnia ista fabulosa sunt," and concludes "revera Virbius est numen coniunctum Dianae et matri deun Atys." It is doubtful whether bello' is constructed as dat. with 'ibat' or as abl. with pulcherrima,' which would then mean glorious. Sil. 11. 363 has "pulcherrimus irae,” ennobled by his wrath.

762.] Wagn. and Peerlkamp find a diffi. culty in father and son having the same name, the latter wishing to read 'viribus,' which Gossrau approves. But the custom of giving the son the name of his father was known among the Greeks (e. g. Demosthenes); and by making use of it here Virg. has escaped the awkwardness of either bringing Hippolytus himself into the field or giving him a son with an unknown name; indeed he may be said to have distinguished between the Greek Hippolytus and the Italian hero Virbius. For insignem' we might have expected "insignis," as in 9. 583 (a passage parallel in other respects), "Insignis facie, genitor quem miserat Arcens:" but there is force in the acc., whether we take the word with Wagn. of the splendour of his arms and accoutrements, provided by his mother (comp. 9. 547, "vetitisque ad Troiam miserat armis "), or of his personal beauty, which would also be naturally associated with the mother. It seems better, on a comparison of the two passages just cited, to make Aricia an eponymous nymph, mother of Virbius, than Virbius' native place, in spite of "Populonia mater" 10. 172. See however on 9. 177, which is itself doubtful, though on the whole the balance there seems to incline the other way. 763.] Eductum,' reared, like "educatum:" see on 6. 765. Egeriae: a

·

[ocr errors]

766

grove near Aricia was sacred to Egeria, as well as one near Rome. Ov. M. 15. 497 makes Egeria fly to Aricia for grief at the death of Numa, and there to be gently rebuked by Hippolytus for disturbing the rites of Diana with her lamentations. See also Ov. F. 3. 261 foll. (Dict. M. Aegeria '). Some however (as Forb.) make only one grove of Egeria, that here spoken of. For humentia Pal. and one of Ribbeck's cursives, supported by Gud. and a third cursive, have Hymetia,' which (in the form Hymettia ') was the reading of many old edd., and even Heins. and Burm.: but Heyne rightly ascribes it to a confusion between humentia' and "Symaethia," the word in the parallel 9. 584. humentia litora' are those of the Lacus Nemorensis (Dict. G. Aricia').

The

764.] The temple of Diana at Aricia was well known, being served by "the priest who slew the slayer and shall himself be slain," a custom which Caligula revived. Much difficulty has been made about 'placabilis,' as Sil. 4. 367., 8. 362 calls the place "inmitis." Virg. however probably meant little more than 'pinguis,' the temple being a wealthy one (Dict. G. Aricia'), without reference to the nature of the rites by which the goddess was propitiated. Heyne and others suppose an implied contrast with other places like Tauri where human victims were offered to Diana. The applicability of 'placabilis' to an altar (which Heyne questioned, wishing to omit 'et') is shown by Gossrau, who comp. Ov. M. 15. 574, "Placat odoratis herbosas ignibus aras."

765.] For the story of Hippolytus' death see Euripides. Ferunt fama,' a mixture of "ferunt" and "fama est."

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

766.] Explerit poenas,' a mixture of 'explere iram" (comp. 2. 586) and "sol. vere poenas." Comp. 9. 356, "poenarum exhaustum satis est," though there the receivers of satisfaction are spoken of. The subj. is accounted for by the oratio obliqua. 'Patrias poenas,' the penalty due to his father, as "patriae pietatis 9. 294 is dutifulness shown to a father.

"

Turbatis distractus equis, ad sidera rursus
Aetheria et superas caeli venisse sub auras,
Paeoniis revocatum herbis et amore Dianae.

Tum Pater omnipotens, aliquem indignatus ab umbris
Mortalem infernis ad lumina surgere vitae,
Ipse repertorem medicinae talis et artis

Fulmine Phoebigenam Stygias detrusit ad undas.
At Trivia Hippolytum secretis alma recondit
Sedibus, et nymphae Egeriae nemorique relegat,
Solus ubi in silvis Italis ignobilis aevum
Exigeret, versoque ubi nomine Virbius esset.
Unde etiam templo Triviae lucisque sacratis
Cornipedes arcentur equi, quod litore currum
Et iuvenem monstris pavidi effudere marinis.
Filius ardentis haud setius aequore campi
Exercebat equos curruque in bella ruebat.
767.] Turbatis equis,' 9. 124. 'Ad
sidera aetheria venisse,' like "magnum
caeli ventura sub axem 6.790. For the
restoration of Hippolytus to life by Aescu-
lapius comp. Ov. M. 15. 533 foll., Id. F. 6.
746 foll.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

769.] Paeoniis,' the Greek Пaivios, the adj. of Пav, the god of healing. It is doubtless to be pronounced by synizesis here and 12. 401. Herbis et amore Dianae' forms a sort of ἓν διὰ δυοῖν, as it was Diana's love that set Aesculapius upon the work.

770.] "Quod Venus audaci Nymphae indignata licere" 12. 786.

771.] "Lumina vitae" 6. 828.

[ocr errors]

772.] Repertores doctrinarum atque leporum" Lucr. 3. 1036. See on 12. 829. 773.] Serv. mentions another reading 'Poenigenam,' actually found in Med., Rom. (virtually), Gud. corrected, and two other of Ribbeck's cursives, which he explains "matris poena genitum," Coronis, the mother of Aesculapius, having been slain by Apollo, his father. It seems more likely that it should be a barbarous attempt at a patronymic from "Paean." In undas,' which was retained by Heyne, is found in none of Ribbeck's MSS. but Gud. corrected and two other cursives. As Gossrau remarks, the meaning is not that he was plunged in Styx, but that he was thrown down as low as Styx. The name Phoebigenam is emphatic by its position. 'Adigat me fulmine ad umbras" 4. 25. 774.] "Sacrata sede recondam " 1. 681. 775.] "In sola relegant pascua" G. 3.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

771

775

780

212. The only other instance of the construction with dat. which seems to be quoted is from Cic. Tusc. 2. 8, "Non saeva terris gens relegata ultimis," from a translation of Hercules' speech in Soph. Trach. Thus Egeriae nemorique' are probably ev dià duoiv. At any rate we may say that Virg. would hardly have used 'Egeriae relegat' alone.

66

[ocr errors]

776.] So Venus proposes to remove Ascanius to Paphos or Cythera, and says positis inglorius armis Exigat hic aevum' 10. 52. For the feeling comp. G. 2. 486., 4. 564, and the language of Atys in Catullus' poem.

777.] Verso,' changed, though Serv. tries to explain it "ex re facto," referring to the supposed etymology "vir bis." Pal. originally had viribus,' which might be quoted for Peerlkamp's conj. v. 762.

778.] 'Etiam' might be taken in its ordinary sense: but it more probably = "adhuc" (see on 2. 292). Triviae templo' was an old reading: but it is not certain whether it rests on any authority.

779.] "Cornipedum equorum" 6. 591. For 'litore-marinis' comp. the description towards the end of Eur. Hipp.

780.] "Effunduntque ducem rapiuntque ad litora currus" 10. 574. 'Currum et iuvenem effudere' is a zeugma. 'Monstris' with 'pavidi,' which = "pavefacti."

781.] Haud setius,' in spite of his father's catastrophe. Some inferior MSS. have 'segnius,' which probably comes from a gloss of Serv., "non segnius patre."

782.] "Exercete, viri, tauros" G. 1.

Ipse inter primos praestanti corpore Turnus
Vertitur arma tenens, et toto vertice supra est.
Cui triplici crinita iuba galea alta Chimaeram
Sustinet, Aetnaeos efflantem faucibus ignis,
Tam magis illa fremens et tristibus effera flammis,
Quam magis effuso crudescunt sanguine pugnae.
At levem clipeum sublatis cornibus Io
Auro insignibat, iam saetis obsita, iam bos,
Argumentem ingens, et custos virginis Argus,

210. Comp. above v. 163. "In bella
ruebant" 9. 182.

[ocr errors]

783-802.] Turnus himself, in complete armour, commands the Rutulians.' 783.] Ipse inter primos,' 2. 479. 'Praestanti corpore,' G. 4. 538.

785

790

met and the cognizance. A third way would be with Wagn. to regard the part. as standing for the finite verb, as G. 2. 133, "folia haud ullis labentia ventis:" but this would destroy the idiomatic use of "ille" in apposition, so common in Virg. 784.] Vertitur' seems to be used on (1. 3., 5. 457 &c.). Tam magis quam the analogy of "versatur," σтPÉPETαι, magis' is noted by Quint. 9. 3 as an being preferred by Virg. as less common archaism. Gossrau comp. Plaut. Poen. and as therefore bringing out the original 1. 2. 135, " Quam magis aspecto, tam metaphor more sharply. "Celeriter se magis est nimbata, et nugae merac.' movet et vegeto animo et corpore "Goss-Tristibus flammis' like "laevo contristat rau. Comp. the use of "avertitur" G. 3. 499, where "aversatur" would have been more usual. "Arma tenens" 8. 299. Toto vertice supra est' seems to be from the description of Ajax II. 3. 227, toxos ̓Αργείων κεφαλήν τε καὶ εὐρέας ὤμους.

785.] For the triple plume Lersch § 32 comp. Polyb. 6. 23. 12, of the Roman "hastati," ì dè nãσi toútоis проσεжκοσμοῦνται πτερίνῳ στεφάνῳ καὶ πτεροῖς φοινικίοις ἢ μέλασιν ὀρθοῖς τρισίν, ὡς πηχυαίοις τὸ μέγεθος, ὧν προστεθέντων κατὰ κορυφὴν ἅμα τοῖς ἄλλοις ὅπλοις ὁ μὲν ἀνὴρ φαίνεται διπλάσιος ἑαυτοῦ κατὰ τὸ μέγεθος, ἡ δ ̓ ὄψις καλὴ καὶ καταπληκτική Tois évavríois. Crinita' is used almost like a participle with iuba:' comp. 12. 413, "foliis et flore comantem." "Gorgonis os pulcherrimum, crinitum anguibus" Cic. 2 Verr. 4. 56. Stat. actually uses a verb "crinio:" see quotation on v. 751.

786.] Sustinet,' doubtless on the top of the helmet, 'galea alta.' "In the colossal statue of Athene in the Parthenon at Athens she bore a sphinx on the top of her helmet and a griffin on each side. Paus. 1. 24. 5" (Dict. A. Galea '). Aetnaeos,' like those of Aetna. « Horriferos eructans faucibus aestus" Lucr. 3. 1012. Virg. thought of 11. 6. 182, dewòv àπoπνείουσα πυρὸς μένος αιθομένοιο.

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]

lumine caelum" (of Sirius) 10. 275. 'Efferus' appears to be a poetical word; it occurs Lucr. 2. 604, though Forc. quotes no instance earlier than Virg., who uses the word pretty frequently: Cic. however has "efferari."

788.] Crudescunt' 11. 833, G. 3. 504 note. Virg. has turned the imagery of such passages as Il. 5. 4., 18. 225 foll. into an artistic representation. He can hardly mean more here than that the figure of Chimaera appears more dreadful the more Turnus himself inspires terror. Comp. 9. 731 foll., where the pathetic fallacy, as Mr. Ruskin would call it, is the same.

[ocr errors]

·

789.] Sublatis cornibus' gives the picture: she was represented as completely transformed, iam saetis obsita, iam bos.' Io was chosen on account of Turnus' connexion with Argos, as if he was the representative of Greece in Italy.

[ocr errors]

790.] 'Auro insignibat:' the figure seems to have been an "emblema," gold attached to some other metal. Clipei insigne decorum" 2. 392. 'Iam' &c. Virg. has translated Mosch. 2. 44, as Cerda remarks, 'Ev μèv ěny xpvooîO TEτυγμένη Ἰναχὶς Ἰὼ Εἰσέτι πόρτις ἐοῦσα, puǹv d'oùê eÎxe yuvainv. 'Iam,' already: the transformation was complete. Comp. 12. 179, "Saturnia coniunx, Iam melior, iam, diva, precor," changed at last to kindness.

791.] Argumentum' in the sense of the subject of a composition is as old as

Caelataque amnem fundens pater Inachus urna.
Insequitur nimbus peditum, clipeataque totis
Agmina densentur campis, Argivaque pubes
Auruncaeque manus, Rutuli veteresque Sicani
Et Sacranae acies et picti scuta Labici;
Qui saltus, Tiberine, tuos, sacrumque Numici
Litus arant, Rutulosque exercent vomere collis,
Circaeumque iugum, quis Iuppiter Anxurus arvis

Plautus, " Post argumentum huius eloquar tragoediae," Amph. Prol. 51. It is frequently used as here in relation to works of art, e. g. "Ex ebore diligentissime perfecta erant argumenta in valvis," Cic. 2 Verr. 2. 4. 56, where a Gorgon's head (see note on v. 785 above) is instanced, as having been removed from the doors by Verres. It seems in fact to have been a technical term for historical and legendary subjects in art. Prop. 4. 9. 13, speaking of the different provinces of different artists, says, Argumenta magis sunt Mentoris addita formae, At Myos exiguum flectit acanthus iter" (this and the last quoted passage from Cerda's note), where Paley understands the word of groups as opposed to single figures.

[ocr errors]

792.] The representation of Inachus as a river-god has nothing to do with any event in the story, but is simply introduced that he may be identified in the work of art. See notes on 8. 652, 653, 654. 'Caelata: Inachus is part of the "emblema." Representations of river-gods reclining with water streaming out of pitchers at their sides are common enough.

793.] A translation of II. 4. 274, vépos ELTETO NESWV, where the simile which follows shows that the cloud meant is a storm-cloud, nimbus.' Clipeatus' is used in prose and verse both: see Dictt. Pacuv. Herm. fr. 21 has the verb " clipeo."

794.] Enn. A. 8. fr. 13 has "densantur campis horrentia tela virorum." For 'densentur' or 'densantur' see on G. 1. 248. Argivaque pubes,' probably the inhabitants of Ardea, Acrisonei coloni," v. 410.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

795.] Auruncae manus,' Auruncans on the nearer side of the Liris, as distinguished from those on the further side, above v. 727. 'Rutuli' followed by Rutulos' v. 798 is a little awkward, so that Heyne wished to read 'Siculi' here, from a quotation (erroneous, as he admits) by Serv. on 1. 2. Veteresque Sicani :' "gentes venere Sicanae" 8. 328 note: see

[ocr errors]

795

also 11. 317 foll. Veteres' points to their early settlement in Italy, 8. 1. c.

[ocr errors]

796.] The Sacrani, like the Sicani, are a mythical people (Dict. G. s. v.). One etymological fancy made them a colony of Corybantes, another emigrants in consequence of a "ver sacrum.' 'Labici' for "Labicani," the name of the place being Labicum (Lavicum) or Labici (Dict. G.). It was one of the cities of the Latin league, and seems to have fallen into decay after the Punic wars. One of the roads out of Rome was called Via Labicana. "Pictis armis " of the Arcadians 8. 588., 12. 281, of the Amazons 11. 660. For the thing see on 8. 1. c.

797.] Wagn. thinks this and the five following lines specify not new tribes, but the localities inhabited by those already mentioned. This is possible: but Virg. elsewhere in this catalogue mixes up the two modes of designation (e. g. vv. 710 foll.), so that it would hardly be safe to assume that he intends any distinction here.

For the words about the Tiber comp. v. 29 above, 8. 92 foll.: for Numicus vv. 150, 242 above.

798.] "Vomere duros exercent collis " 11. 318, also of the Rutulians.

799.] 'Circaeum iugum' above v. 10. The iugum' is the Circeian promontory (Dict. G. Mons Circeius '). The temple of Jupiter at Anxur is mentioned by Livy : see Dict. G. 'Tarracina.' Anxur or Axur seems to have been a local god identified with Jupiter, as, according to Serv., Feronia was with Juno, and hence Virg. combines the names, making 'Anxurus' a title of Jupiter. Serv. has an etymological figment explaining the word as ǎvev cupâs, the god being represented on coins as a youth. See Preller, Römische Mythologie, p. 238. Pal. and originally Gud. have Anxuris.' The people are called Anxurates by Livy. The construction is irregular (see on v. 727), the meaning being qui habitant arva . . . qui habitant qua iacet."

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Praesidet, et viridi gaudens Feronia luco;

Qua Saturae iacet atra palus, gelidusque per imas
Quaerit iter vallis atque in mare conditur Ufens.
Hos super advenit Volsca de gente Camilla,
Agmen agens equitum et florentis aere catervas,
Bellatrix, non illa colo calathisve Minervae
Femineas adsueta manus, sed proelia virgo
Dura pati cursuque pedum praevertere ventos.
Illa vel intactae segetis per summa volaret

800.] "Geticis qui praesidet arvis" 3. 35. Here the reference seems to be to the position of the temple on a height. For the different views taken of the goddess Feronia see Dict. M. s. v. She appears again 8. 564 as the mother of a king Erulus. More than one grove was called by her name: that meant here was three miles from Tarracina (Hor. 1 S. 5. 24 foll.), on the border of the Pontine marshes (Dict. G. s. v.).

801.] Saturae palus' is only known
from this place and Sil. 8. 380, who imi-
tates and tries to improve on Virg. :
"Qua Saturae nebulosa palus restagnat,
et atro

Liventis caeno per squalida turbidus arva
Cogit aquas Ufens, atque inficit aequora

limo."

It was probably, as is remarked Dict. G. 'Pomptinae Paludes,' some part of the Pontine marshes. The marshes are formed chiefly by the stagnation of the waters of the Ufens and Amasenus (ib.). Serv. says others read Asturae,' the name of an island and river near Circeii: but the elision would be unheard of, and even if we should adopt the other form of the word, 'Sturae,' there is no reason to suppose that there was any marsh of the name. 802.] Quaerit,' as if unable to find a way through the marshes. "Nec reperire viam atque evolvere posset In mare se Xanthus" 5. 807. The present channel of

the river is artificial.

803-817.] Camilla, the swift-footed huntress, leads a contingent of Volscian cavalry.'

803.] Super,' besides: as we should say colloquially, she comes on the top of them. Camilla is an invention of the poet's, modelled on the post-Homeric Pentbesilea. "Camilli" and " Camillae" were young male and female attendants on the priests, Macrob. Sat. 3. 8. See on 11. 543. 804.] Agmen et catervas' ev dià dvoîv.

VOL. III.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

800

805

Florentes aere' on the analogy of [xpuσoû] aveos Theogn. 452, as Lucr.'s florentia lumina flammis" (4. 450) is on the analogy of the Homeric Tupòs ǎveos. See other illustrations in Munro's note ad l. The line recurs 11. 433.

[ocr errors]

805.] Bellatrix' placed as 1. 493, where it follows à line consisting of a participial clause. Non illa:' see on 6. 593. If there is any contrast here, it is between Camilla and other maidens, implied also in 'femineas.' 'Colo calathisve Minervae :' Cerda points out that this is an imitation of Apoll. R. 1. 627 foll.:

τῇσι δὲ βουκολίαι τε βοῶν χάλκειά τε δύνειν

τεύχεα, πυροφόρους τε διατμήξασθαι ἀρούρας

ῥηΐτερον πάσῃσιν Αθηναίης πέλεν ἔργων,
οἷς αἰεὶ τὸ πάροιθεν ὁμίλεον.

For the expression comp. Hor. 3 Od. 12.
4 foll. "tibi qualum Cythereae puer ales,
tibi telas operosaeque Minervae studium
aufert
" &c.
It matters little whether
'colo' as well as 'calathis' goes with
Minervae.' For 'calathis' comp. Catull.
64 (66). 318 "ante pedes autem candentis
mollia lanae Vellera virgati custodibant
calathisci."

[ocr errors]

806.] Virgo' in strong contrast to proelia dura pati:' comp. 1. 493 "audetque viris concurrere virgo." From 11. 584 foll. it would seem as if this were Camilla's first experience of war; so that we must either suppose Virg. to be inconsistent with himself, or understand 'proelia' of encounters with wild beasts, which is scarcely natural.

807.] "Libeat dum proelia Turno Nostra pati" 12. 570. Cursuque' &c., a sufficiently common image: see 5. 319 &c.

808.] The thought may have been suggested by Tupopópous apoúpas in Apoll. R. cited on v. 805: but the four lines are imitated from Il. 20. 226 foll., of the horses of Erichthonius, where the wonder is

G

« PreviousContinue »