Quem modò navali Mnestheus certamine victor Namque volans liquidis in nubibus arsit arundo, 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 495. Clarissime. This epithet is here given to Pandarus, as being a distinguished archer, insomuch that Homer equals him almost to Apollo. 522. Monstrum signifies any event that happens contrary to the ordinary course of nature. It is derived from monstro, because such prodigies were accounted indications or presages of future events sent from heaven. 524. Seraque. Some explain sera by gravia, others by futura; out the first of all with favouring shouts; whom follows Mnestheus lately victorious in the naval strife, Mnestheus crowned with a green olive-wreath. The third is Eurytion, the brother, illustrious Pandarus, of thee, who, once urged by Minerva to violate the treaty, didst first hurl thy dart into the midst of the Greeks. Acestes remained the last, and in the bottom of the helmet; he too adventuring with his aged hand to essay the feats of youth. Then with manly force they bend their pliant bows, each according to his ability, and draw forth their arrows from their quivers. And first the arrow of young Hyrtacus' son, shot through the sky from the whizzing string, cleaves the fleeting air, reaches the mark, and fixes in the wood of the opposite mast. The mast quivered; and the frighted bird, by fluttering its wings, shewed signs of fear; and all quarters rang with loud applause. Next keen Mnestheus stood with his bent bow, aiming on high, and directed his eye and arrow both together. But it was his misfortune not to be able to hit the bird itself with his shaft; but he burst the cords and hempen ligaments to which it hung tied by the foot from the high mast. She with winged speed shot into the air and dusky clouds. Then Eurytion in eager haste, having his arrow long before extended on the ready bow, poured forth a vow to his brother Pandarus, as he now beheld the joyful dove in the void sky, and pierced her under a dark cloud as she was clapping her wings. She dropped down dead, left her life among the stars of heaven! and, falling to the ground, brings back the arrow fastened in the wound. Acestes alone remained after the prize was lost; who, notwithstanding, discharged his shaft into the aërial regions, ostentatiously displaying both his address and twanging bow. Here is unexpectedly presented to view a prodigy, designed to be of high portent; this the important event afterwards declared, and the alarming soothsayers predicted the omens late. For the arrow, flying among the watery others understand it in the common acceptation, intimating that the soothsayers could make nothing of the omen till the event happened. Signavitque viam flammis, tenuesque recessit At pater Æneas, nondum certamine misso, 530 535 540 545 550 555 547. Epytiden. Periphas, the herald of Anchises, of whom Homer speaks, Il. xvii. 324. 553. Inccdunt pueri. This game was commonly known by the name of Lusus Trojae. 559. Flexilis circulus obtorti auri. A poetical circumlocution for a golden chain. The clouds, took fire, and with the flames marked out a path, till, being quite consumed, it vanished into thin air; as often stars loosened from the firmament shoot across the sky, and flying draw after them a fiery train. Sicilians and Trojans stood fixed in astonishment, and poured out prayers to the gods; nor does great Æneas reject the omen, but, embracing Acestes overjoyed, loads him with ample rewards, and thus bespeaks him : Accept these, venerable prince; for the great sovereign of heaven, by these omens, has signified his will, that you receive the honour of the victory, though out of course. This gift, which belonged to aged Anchises' self, you shall enjoy,-a bowl embossed with figures, which Thracian Cisseus formerly gave for a magnificent present to my sire, as a monument and pledge of his love. This said, he crowns his temples with verdant laurel, and in view of all pronounces Acestes the first conqueror. Nor does good Eurytion envy him the preference in honour, though he alone struck down the bird from the exalted sky. The next prize is given to him who broke the cords; the last is he who pierced the mast with his winged shaft. But father Eneas, the games not being yet ended, calls to him the son of Epytus, young Iülus' guardian and companion, and thus whispers in his trusty ear: Go quick, says he, desire Ascanius (if he has now gotten ready his company of boys, and put himself and them in array for the cavalcade) to bring up his troops, and shew himself in arms to do his grandsire honour. The hero himself orders the crowd to remove from the extended circus, and the field to be cleared. The boys advance in procession, and uniformly shine on managed steeds full in their parents' sight; in admiration of whom, as they march on, the whole Trojan and Trinacrian youth join in their acclamations. All in due form had their hair pressed with a trim garland. They bear two cornel spears pointed with steel; and some have polished quivers on their shoulders. A pliant circle of wreathed gold goes from the upper part of their breasts about their Tres equitum numero turmæ, ternique vagantur Fertur equis. Excipiunt plausu pavidos, gaudentque tuentes Impediunt, texuntque fugas et prælia ludo; 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 580. Agmina terni, etc. The meaning seems to be, that after they had inarched round the circus in one body, to be reviewed by Aeneas and the other spectators, upon the signal being given they divided into three troops and marched over the plain, each troop performing their exercises in a different ground. 590. Qua signa, etc. Literally, whereby error, not to be unravelled, and inextricable, frustrated all signs to trace out the way. |