467. At apud illos se- At secura quies, et nescia fallere vita, cura quies Dives opum variarum; at latis otia fundis, Speluncæ, vivique lacus; at frigida Tempe, Mugitusque boum, mollesque sub arbore somni 471. Illic sunt saltus Non absunt. Illic saltus, ac lustra ferarum, amore earum Et patiens operum parvoque assueta juventus, Me verò primùm dulces ante omnia Musæ, illos 476. Perculsus ingenti Quarum sacra fero, ingenti perculsus amore, : 470 475 480 485 NOTES. mon. The ancients used it to flavor their It rises with the mountain torrent. oil. Liquidi: in the sense of puri. 467. Vita nescia fellere: a life knowing not to deceive a life of substantial happiness, in opposition to that of cities and courts, which is showy, false, and deceitful. 468. Latis: some copies have latis. Heyne takes it in the sense of apertis vel patentibus. 469. Tempe: neu. plu. A most pleasant vale in Thessaly, surrounded by the mountains Ossa, Pelion, and Olympus. The river Peneus flows through it. The poet here means any pleasant vale, putting the species for the genus. Vivi lacus: in the sense of perennis aqua. Frigida Tempe, for umbrosa valles. 474. Justitia: the goddess Astræa. See Ecl. iv. 6. 475. Verò primùm ante: but, in the first place, above all things, may the sweet muses accept of me, whose sacred ensigns, &c. Though the poet praises the country life so much, he prefers the charms of poetry, and the noble entertainments of science, particularly philosophy and astronomy. The muses presided not only over poetry, but also over the sciences and liberal arts. The poets called themselves the priests of the muses. Hence the propriety of quarum sacra fero. 477. Vias et sidera cœli: in the sense of cursus siderum in cœlo. 479. Unde tremor terris: whence earthquakes arise: by what power the deep seas swell Objicibus ruptis: its barriers being broken down. The poet is speaking of the ebbing and flowing of the tide. He hath in his view the swelling of a mighty stream. It rushes against the opposing mounds. Here it is stopped in its course for a time; but gathering strength from its accumulated waters, it bursts the barriers, sweeping every thing in its course. Vis: here, not simply violence or force, but the moving or efficient cause of the rising of the waters. The true cause of the ebbing and flowing of the tide was not known, till the immortal Sir Isaac Newton placed it beyond doubt. He demonstrated it to be the attraction of the heavenly bodies, particularly of the moon. 481. Quid tantùm, &c. The poet here speaks of winter and summer. What may be the reason, why the winter days are so quick in ending; and what delay may put off, or retard the approach of the summer nights. What may be the reason that the days in summer are so long. Tingere: in the sense of occidere. * 484. Sin frigidus sanguis: but if cold blood around my heart should hinder, that I could not, &c.** Secundum Physicos, qui dicunt stultos homines esse frigidioris sanguinis, prudentes calidi. Unde et senes, in quibus jam friget; et pueri, in quibus necdum calet, minus sapiunt; says Servius. Præcordia: properly a membrane surrounding the heart, and separating it from the lungs. It is taken often for the heart itself, as in the present instance. 485. Rigui: in the sense of fluentes. The meaning of the poet appears to be that if he had not capacity for the higher subjects of philosophy and astronomy, he would retire into the country, and there pass his time, unheeded and unknown, amidst rural delights. Panaque, Sylvanumque senem, Nymphasque sorores! 43 460 495 Non res Romanæ, perituraque regna: neque ille, NOTES. 486. O, ubi-O qui, &c. These, as Mr. Davidson justly observes, are not questions, as Ruæus and Dr. Trapp both take them; but exclamations, which in all languages are usually elliptical. Campi: Tempe, those pleasant fields of Thessaly are undoubtedly intended. Sperchius: a river of Thessaly, rising at the foot of mount Pindus, and falls into the Sinus Maliacus. 488. Taygeta: neu. pleu. a mountain of Laconia, famous for hunting, and the celebration of the orgies of Bacchus: hence, Viginibus bacchala Lacanis; frequented by the Laconian or Spartan virgins. Hæmi. See Geor. i. 49. 492. Acherontis: Acheron, a fabulous river of hell. It seems here to be put for death. In that sense the epithet avari is very proper. Strepitum, &c. will then mean the noise or tumultuous dread generally occasioned through the fear of death. Or, it may mean, the noise, tumult, and bustle of the infernal regions generally. In this last case, Acherontis will mean hell, or the infernal regions, by synec. 494. Pana. See Ecl. ii. 31. Nymphas soTores. See Ecl. ii. 46. Sylvanum. See Ecl. X. 24. 495. Non fasces populi: not the honors of the people, nor the purple, &c. The Roman magistrates were chosen by the people, in the Comitia. The fasces, properly, was a bundle of birchen rods. The dictator had 24 of these rods-the consuls 12the provincial prætors 6-the city prætors 2; which were carried before them by persons, who were called lictors. Fasces is frequently put for the power and authority of the magistrate, by meton. Flexit: in the sense of movet. 500 497. Dacus. The Dacii were a people inhabiting the north of the Danube, or Ister, very troublesome to the Romans. Istro conjurato: the conspiring, or leagued Danube. The name of the river put for the people living near it, by meton. The Danube is one of the largest rivers in Europe. It rises in Germany, and taking an easterly course, it falls into the Euxine sea by six mouths, at a distance of about 1600 miles from its source. 498. Res Romana: the Roman republic. It is opposed to regna peritura. The former they vainly imagined would always endure; while kingdoms would fall, and their names be forgotten. Flexerunt illum, is understood. 499. Doluit miserans, &c. The poet could not mean that his countryman possessed a stoical apathy, which rendered him insensible to the wants, and deaf to the calls of the poor; but that in the country, there were not those objects of poverty and wretchedness to excite his grief and compassion; or at least, few of them in comparison to the number in cities. In this very circumstance, we see a high commendation of a country life. 501. Ferrea jura: the same as duras le Hic petit excidiis urbem miserosque Penates, Hic stupet attonitus rostris: hunc plausus hiantem Per cuneos (geminatur enim) plebisque patrumque 510. Alii gaudent per- Corripuit; gaudent perfusi sanguine fratrum, fusi Exilioque domos et dulcia limina mutant, Atque alio patriam quærunt sub Sole jacentem. · 505 510 514. Hinc est labor Hinc anni labor: hinc patriam, parvosque nepotes anni: hinc agricola susSustinet: hinc armenta boum, meritosque juvencos. 515 tinet 516. Nec requies est Nec requies; quin, aut pomis exuberet annus, anno; quin Aut fœtu pecorum, aut Cerealis mergite culmi: Proventuque oneret sulcos, atque horrea vincat. Venit hyems; teritur Sicyonia bacca trapetis; Glande sues læti redeunt: dant arbuta sylvæ: Et varios ponit foetus autumnus; et altè Mitis in apricis coquitur vindemia saxis. 523. Dulces nati pen- Intereà dulces pendent circùin oscula nati: dent circùm oscula pa- Casta pudicitiam servat domus: ubera vaccæ Lactea demittunt: pinguesque in gramine læto Inter se adversis luctantur cornibus hædi. rentum: NOTES. 505. Penates. These were the household gods; and were thought to preside over houses and domestic affairs. Their statues or images were usually made of wax, ivory, silver, or earth, and generally placed in the innermost part of the house: hence that place was called Penetrale: and they were called sometimes, from that circumstance, Penetrales. They were worshipped with 'wine, incense, fruits, and sometimes with the sacrifice of a lamb. Penates, by meton. is used for one's country, habitation, house, or dwelling and sometimes for the family, or inhabitants, as in the present instance. See En. ii. 717. 506. Sarrano ostro: upon Tyrian purple. Sarrano, an adj. from Sarra, the ancient name of Tyre. Gemma: a cup made, or set with gems. 508. Rostris. The Rostrum was the place of common pleas, at Rome, so called, as Livy informs us, from this circumstance: The Antiates, a maritime people of Latium, being overcome by the Romans; to perpetuate the memory of the victory, they placed the beaks of their ships (rostra) around the suggestum, or place of pleading, by way of ornament. Hic stupet: this one stands amazed, being astonished at the courts of justice. Plausus patrumque plebisque, &c. It appears that the orders of patricians and plebeians expressed their approbation by turns. If we suppose the patricians, who occupie Orchestra, or the part of the stage, to be the first; this on for the words, enim 520 525 geminatur per cuneos: for it is redoubled, or repeated along the cunei. These were seats in the back part of the theatre, appropriated to the common people, or plebeians. See 381. supra. Hunc: in the sense of alium. Geminatur. Heyne reads Geminatus, agreeing with plausus; without a parenthesis. 512. Sub alio sole: under another sunin another clime. This is beautiful, and highly poetical. 516. Nec requies: there is no rest: but the year abounds either, &c. This passage is extremely beautiful and poetical. The poet represents the year as laboring without intermission, in bringing forth her productions. Ruæus refers the whole of this fine passage to the husbandman: Nec cessat agricola donec annus abundet, &c. says he. But he gives no reason for his taking quin in the sense of donec. 517. Mergite Cerealis culmi: with bundles or sheaves of grain. 519. Sicyonia: an adj. from Sicyon, a city of Achaia, not far from the isthmus of Corinth, abounding in olive trees. Bacca : the olive. 520. Arbuta: properly the fruit of the arbute tree. Here, perhaps, taken for wild fruit in general. Lati: in the sense of saturati. 521. Ponit fœtus: in the sense of dat, vel reddit fructus. 524. Casta domus: the virtuous family preserves, &c. By being trained to industry and good order, they are not in danger of losing their virtue, or character. Ipse dies agitat festos: fususque per herbam, Hanc olim veteres vitam coluere Sabini, Sed nos immensum spatiis confecimus æquor, NOTES. 527. Agitat: in the sense of celebrat. Fusus: in the sense of stratus. 528. Coronant: they fill up to the brim. 531. Palestra this may mean either the exercise itself, or the place of exercise. 532. Sabini. An ancient people of Italy, whose young women were seized by the Romans, at certain shows or exhibitions, to which they had been invited. Upon this, the Sabines made war upon them to avenge the atrocious deed. A treaty of amity, however, was concluded between the two parties; and in the event they became one people. Coluere: they religiously observed, or practised. 533. Etruria: the same as Tuscia, Tuscany, a country in Italy, separated from Latium by the Tyber. 534. Scilicet et, &c. What is here said of Rome was literally true in the time of Virgil. It was then in all its glory, and was truly the wonder of the world: Rerum: res hath a variety of significations. Here it evidently means the world, or the whole earth. 535. Una circumdedit. The walls of Rome embraced seven hills, when that city was in the height of its glory. Their names were: Palatinus, Calius, Capitolinus, Aventinus, Esquilinus, Quirinalis, and Viminalis. 536. Antè sceptrum: before the reign of the Dictean king. Jupiter is so called from Before the reign of Jove, and before the impious race of men fed upon bullocks slain, golden Saturn led this life upon the earth. This is a beautiful allusion to the golden age. See Ecl. iv. 6. Agebat: in the sense of ducebat. 537. Gens: in the sense of genus hominum, says Heyne. 541. Sed nos. This is an allegory taken from the chariot race. By confecimus æquor immensum spatiis, the poet may mean that he had run over a plain not measured by stages; or one which did not lie within the limits or bounds of his proposed race or course. In this sense, divested of the figure, it will be: I have now finished my digression into the praises of a country life, it is time to lay aside my pen. Ruæus interprets spatiis by longitudine, and understands by æquor immensum spatiis, a plain immeasurable in length. Each course of chariots in the race was called spatium. This was repeated seven times. Hence spatia, the plural, came to signify the race ground. Cum septimo spatio palma appropinquant. The starting place was called carcer, and the turning place meta. By whom were they carried? What river did it receive in its course? Who commanded that expedition? What was the object of that expedition? How many accompanied Jason? What direction does the poet give for planting trees? How should the rows be arranged? Among what people did scenic representations originate? Why were the Athenians called Theseida? Who may be considered the inventor of tragedy? What did he make use of as a stage? What was the form of the Roman theatre? Into how many parts was it divided? What was the form of the amphitheatre? What was the original name of Italy? Why were the Romans sometimes called Ausones? What do you understand by the word fasces? How many of these rods were carried before the Roman magistrates? For what is the word fasces used by me ton. ? Who were the Dacii? Where did they inhabit? Where does the river Ister rise? Where does it empty? Who were the Penates? For what is the word taken by meton.? Why was the place of common please, at Rome, called Rostrum ? What was the word Rostrum properly? Who were the Sabines? Did the Romans offer any violence to their young women? What was the event of the affair? How many hills did the walls of Rome encompass? What were they called? How many courses were there in the chariot race? How does the book end? LIBER TERTIUS. THE subject of this book is the raising of cattle. The poet begins with an invocation of some of the rural deities, and a compliment to Augustus. After which, he addresses himself to his friend Mæcenas. He then proceeds to give rules for the breeding and management of horses, oxen, sheep, and goats. And, by way of episode and embellishment, he gives us a description of a chariot race, of a battle of bulls, of the force of love, and of a Scythian winter. He enumerates the diseases incident to cattle, and pre scribes their remedies: and concludes by giving an account of a fatal murrain, which once raged among the Alps. March Ada 1. Et te, O pastor, TE quoque, magna Pales, et te, memorande, canemus, memorande ab Amphry- Pastor ab Amphryso: vos, sylvæ, amnesque Lycæi. so: Canemus vos, O Cætera, quæ vacuas tenuissent carmina mentes, 4. Omnia cætera car- Omnia jam vulgata. Quis aut Eurysthea durum, Sylvæ NOTES. 1. Pales. The goddess of shepherds, and of feeding cattle. She was worshipped with milk. Her feasts were called Palilia, and were celebrated on the 12th of the calends of May. 2. Amphryso. A river of Thessaly, where Apollo fed the flocks of Admetus, when he was driven from heaven for having killed the Cyclops. See Ecl. iv. 10. Sylvæ, et amnes Lycai: the groves and streams of Arcadia. Lycaus: a mountain in Arca dia, evidently taken for the whole country, by synec. 3. Carmina: by meton. the argument, or subjects of song. Heyne reads carmine, connecting it with vacuas. In this case, it is to be taken in its usual sense. Tenuissent in the sense of delectavissent. Ruæus says, omnia argumenta. 4. Eurysthea. Eurystheus, was king of Mycena. Instigated by Juno, he imposed upon Hercules, who had been given up to |