Me refero. ad auras. 760 Irruerant Danai, et tectum omne tenebant. Ilicèt ignis edax summa ad fastigia vento Volvitur; exsuperant flammæ; furit æstus Procedo ad Priami sedes, arcemque reviso. Et jam porticibus vacuis, Junonis asylo, Custodes lecti Phoenix et dirus Ulysses Prædam asservabant: huc undique Trpïa gaza Incensis erepta adytis, mensæque Deorum, Crateresque auro solidi, captivaque vestis 765 765. Solidi ex auro Congeritur. Pueri et pavidæ longo ordine matres Ausus quinetiam voces jactare per umbram Implevi clamore vias: mœstusque Creüsam Nequicquam ingeminans, iterumque iterumque vocavi. Infelix simulacrum, atque ipsius umbra Creüsæ Obstupui, steteruntque comæ, et vox faucibus hæsit. NOTES. chance, she had returned thither. Tulisset pedem: had returned, or gone thither. The repetition of the si fortè, is emphatical. 760. Procedo. Creusa was the daughter of Priam, by Hecuba; which, perhaps, is the reason of his going to his palace in search of her. 761. Asylo in the sense of templo. Porticibus in the passages or aisles. 763. Gaza. This word signifies all kinds of rich furniture-wealth-property. It is of Persian origin. Erepta, is connected with it. 764. Mensæ Deorum. These were the tripods of the gods, which served for delivering the oracles, or for bearing the sacred vessels. Adytis: in the sense of templis. 763. Undique. This word may imply, that the things here mentioned were collected from all parts of the town, and thrown in this place (huc,) or that they were piled up here all around--in every part of the building. 770. Ingeminans: repeating her name in vain-in vain, Lecause she did not answer hin. Mastus, agrees with ego, understood. Furenti: for currenti. 772. Infelix simulacrum: the unhappy apparition-unhappy, not on her own account, for she was blessed and at rest; but because she was the source of sorrow and unhappiness to her husband. Umbra. The introduction of Creusa's ghost is extremely well timed. No other expedient could be found to stop the further search of Æneas for his wife, and permit him to return to his 771 771. Infelix simulacrum,atque umbra Creüsæ ipsius, et imago major notâ visa est mihr ante oculos, quærenti 775 eam, et furenti 775. Tum illa cœpit sic affari me friend's in their expedition. It shows the judgment of the poet. 773. Imago major notâ: her image larger than life-than when alive. Spectres and apparitions are usually represented of a large size; fear having a tendency to enlarge objects that are presented to the ima gination. The darkness of the night has a tendency to enlarge the appearance of objects seen obscurely and imperfectly. This episode of Creüsa's death is introduced, not merely for the importance of the event, but because it answered several important purposes of the poet. It gave him an opportunity of more fully illustrating the piety of Æneas, by showing him once inore exposed to all the dangers of the war in search of his wife; and, in consequence of that, leads us back with his hero to visit Troy smoking in its ruins, and makes us acquainted with several affecting circumstances, without which the narration wou'd not have been complete. And then it makes way for the appearance of her ghost, that affords comfort to Æneas in his distress, by predicting his future felicity; and relieves the mind of the reader from the horrors of war and desolation, by turning him to the prospect of that peace and tranquillity which Eneas was to enjoy in Italy; and of that undisturbed rest, and happy liberty, of which herself was now possessed in the other world. 776. Insano dolori: immoderate grief Numine: in the sense of voluntate. Olympi sinit te aspor- Fas, aut ille sinit superi regnator Olympi. mitem tibi 780. Longa exilia fu tura sunt tare hinc Creüsam, co- Longa tibi exilia, et vastum maris æquor arandum. 784. Parta sunt tibi 787. Ego quæ sum Dar- Dardanis, et Divæ Veneris nurus. danis, et Sed me magna Deûm genitrix his detinet oris. 790. Deseruit me la- Jamque vale, et nati serva communis amorem. chrymantem, et volen- Hæc ubi dicta dedit, lachrymantem et multa volentem tem dicere Dicere deseruit, tenuesque recessit in auras. 792. Ibi conatus sum Ter conatus ibi collo dare brachia circùm : ter circumdare Ter frustrà comprensa manus effugit imago, Par levibus ventis, volucrique simillima somno. Sic demum socios, consumptâ nocte, reviso. Atque hic ingentem comitum affluxisse novorum Invenio admirans numerum; matresque, virosque, Collectam exilio pubem, miserabile vulgus. NOTES. 779. Superi Olympi: of high heaven. 780. Exilia in the sense of itinera. It implies that Æneas should be for a long time destitute of any country, or fixed habitation. Equor: properly any level surface, whether land or water. It is often used in the sense of mare. Arandum: in the sense of navigandum. 781. Ad: Heyne reads et. Some copies have ut that you may arrive or come, &c. In this case there must not be a full point after arandum. The usual reading is ad. 782. Lydius Tybris: the Tuscan Tyber flows, with its gentle stream, between lands rich in heroes. The Tyber is here called Lydian, or Tuscan. It separated Tuscany from Latium. The former having been settled by a colony of Lydians under Tyrrhenus, the son of Atys, king of Lydia, in Asia Minor. He called the inhabitants Tyrrheni, after his own name. Agmine: in the sense of cursu vel flumine. Virum. Vir, properly signifies a man, as opposed to a woman-a hero. Also, the male of any kind or species of animals. Arva: properly cultivated lands, from the verb aro. 783. Res læta: prosperity. The same as res secunde. Eneas, after his arrival in Italy, and the death of Turnus, marrieà Lavinia, the daughter of Latinus, king of Latium, and succeeded him in his kingdom. Eneas, in relating this prophecy to Dido, plainly informs her that he was destined by fate for Lavinia; and, by so doing, pleads the necessity of his leaving Carthage. Dido, therefore, betrays herself by an indiscreet passion, and is not betrayed by any perfidy of Eneas. See lib. iv. passim. 780 785 791 795 784. Dilecto Creüsæ: for, or on account of your beloved Creüsa. 786. Servitum: to serve in the capacity of a servant. The sup. in um, of the verb servio, put after ibo. 787. Dardanis. Creusa was the daughter of Priam, and consequently descended in a direct line from Dardanus, the founder of the Trojan race: at least one of the founders of it. See Æn. i. 1. Nurus: the daughter-in-law. Æneas was the son of Venus and Anchises, which made Creüsa the daughter-in-law to Venus. 788. Genitrix: Cybele. She is said to have been the mother of all the gods. 789. Serva: retain, or keep. Nati: Ascanius, who was the son of Creüsa and Æneas. 792. Circumdare. The parts of the verb are separated, for the sake of the verse, by Tmesis. 793. Comprensa: a part. agreeing with imago. Manus: acc. plu. Her image, seized in vain three times, escaped his hands. 794. Par: in the sense of similis. Somno: a dream. 796. Hic admirans invenio, &c. The poet, by this circumstance, signifies how greatly Æneas was beloved by the Trojans, and the weight and importance of his character. It appears that this multitude, by resorting to Æneas, and putting themselves under his protection, chose him their king; which appellation is given him throughout the Æneid. fluxisse: in the sense of advenisse. 797. Miserabile vulgus: a pitiable multitude. They assembled, from all quarters, prepared in mind and fortune to follow me, to whatsoever countries I might wish to lead Undique convenere, animis opibusque parati, In quascunque velim pelago deducere terras. Jamque jugis summæ surgebat Lucifer Idæ, Ducebatque diem: Danaique obsessa tenebant Limina portarum: nec spes opis ulla dabatur. Cessi, et sublato montem genitore petivi. NOTES. them over the sea. Pubem in the sense of juventutem. 801. Jugis summæ Ida. Mount Ida lay to the east of Troy, and, consequently, Lucifer, Venus, or the Morning Star, as it is called when going before the sun, appeared to those at Troy to rise from the top (jugis) of that mountain. Summa: in the sense of altæ. 803. Opis. Ruæus interprets this by auxilii; but it may mean wealth-property: and by the expression we may understand, that there was now no hope of obtaining any more of their wealth or property, the 799. Illi convenere 800 undique, parati animis opibusque sequi me city being completely in the possession of the Greeks. 804. Cessi: I yielded to my fate. Dr. Trapp renders it, I retired; but it is much better to understand it as an expression of the piety and resignation of Eneas, especially if we consider what immediately precedes: nec spes opis ulla dabatur. Genitore sublato. This instance of filial piety is highly pleasing. A modern commander would never have subinitted to the task of bearing such a load; but would have assigned it to a servant, or imposed it upon a soldier. Ruæus says, ferens patrem. QUESTIONS. What is the subject of this book? What is its character, when compared with the rest? How long did the siege of Troy continue? How was it taken at the last? To whom was this horse designed as a present? In return for what? What was the Palladium? By whom was it taken from the temple of Minerva? After building the horse, what did the Greeks do? How far was Tenedos from Troas? Did they pretend that they were about to return home, and relinquish the siege? Did this obtain belief among the Trojans? What was the real object of the Greeks in building this horse? Who acted a very distinguished part in this business? What is the character of Sinon? Who opposed the admission of this horse within the walls? What prodigy happened just at this time, which overcame all doubts in the minds of the Trojans? Who was Laocoon? To what office had he been appointed by lot? What was the design of offering sacrifice to Neptune at this time? What did this horse contain? How many names has the poet invented for this engine of destruction? What time was the assault made upon the city? What office did Sinon perform upon this occasion? Did the Grecian troops return from Tenedos, and join their friends? How were they received into the city? In what state were the Trojans at this time? Were they aware of any such treachery? Finding the city in the hands of the enemy, what course did Æneas pursue? What were some of his actions? Where were his last efforts made to avenge his country? What became of Priam? What were the last actions of the aged monarch? What particularly roused his indignation against Pyrrhus? By whom was Priam slain? What was the manner of it? What were the circumstances of it? Where was Æneas during these transac tions? What did he do, after he beheld the death of Priam? Under whose conduct did he pass in safety through his enemies? Did Eneas receive direction to leave the city, and to seek his safety in flight? How did he receive it? From whom? What was the determination of his father Anchises? What effect had his refusal upon the mind of Æneas? What did his wife Creüsa do upon this occasion? How was the determination of Anchises, not to survive the capture of the city, changed? What were the prodigies that effected that change? To what place did he retire? How did he convey his father? How his son Ascanius? Did he arrive in safety to the place appointed? What became of his wife? What did he do in consequence of her loss? What effect had her loss upon him at the first? How was his mind quieted? What directions did her apparition give him? After his return to the place of rendez vous, did he find great numbers there collected? Did they consider him their leader and king? Were they prepared and willing to undertake any enterprise, he might think proper? LIBER TERTIUS. ENEAS, having finished the sack of Troy, proceeds to relate to Dido the particulars of his voyage. Having built a fleet of twenty ships near Antandros, he set sail in the spring, probably, of the year following the capture of Troy. He landed on the shores of Thrace, and there commenced the building of a city, which he called, after his own name, Ænos, and the inhabitants, Eneade. He was, however, soon interrupted in the prosecution of his work, by the shade of Polydorus, the son of Priam. He had been barbarously put to death by Polymnestor, king of Thrace, his brother-in-law, and buried in this place. It directed him to leave the polluted land, and to seek another clime for his intended city. Having performed the funeral rites to Polydorus, he set sail, directing his course to the south; and soon arrived on the coast of Delos, one of the Cyclades. Here he was hospitably received by Anius, king of the island, and priest of Apollo. He was directed by the oracle to seek the land of his ancestors; there he should found a city, which should bear rule over all nations. This information was joyfully received. Whereupon, they concluded that Crete, the birth-place of Teucer, was the land to which the oracle directed them. Leaving Delos, in a short time they arrive on the shores of Crete. They hail it with joy as the termination of their wanderings. Here Æneas lays the foundation of a city which he called Pergama, and was preparing to enter upon the business of agriculture, when a sudden plague arose, which put an end to his prospects, and carried off many of his companions. In this juncture, it was agreed that he should go back to Delos, to obtain further instructions. In the mean time, in a vision, he was informed that Crete was not the land destined to him, and that the oracle of Apollo intended he should seek Italy, the land of Dardanus. This quieted his mind; and Anchises acknowledged that both Teucer and Dardanus were the founders of their race, and that he had been mistaken in reckoning their descent in the line of Teucer. Eneas, without delay, leaves Crete; and in a few days arrived on the coast of the Strophades, in the Ionian sea, on the west of the Peloponnesus. Here he landed with his fleet, and found these islands in the possession of the Harpies. Celano, one of them, informed him, that, before he should found a city, they should be reduced to the necessity of consuming their tables. This was the first intimation which he had received of want and suffering, in the land destined to him. It sunk deep into his mind. Leaving these islands, he directed his course westward, and soon arrived on the coast of Epirus. He landed at Actium, ana celebrated the Trojan games. From Actium, he proceeded to that part of Epirus called Chaonia. On his entering the harbor, he heard that Helenus, the son of Priam, sat upon the throne of Pyrrhus, and that Andromache had become his wife. Desirous of hearing the truth of this report, he proceeds direct to Buthrotus, the seat of government. Here, to his great joy, he finds his friends, and remained with them for some time. Helenus, at their departure, loads them with presents. Andromache gives to Ascanius alone, who was the exact picture of her son Astyanax. From Epirus, Æneas passes over the Ionian sea, and arrives at the promontory Iäpygium. Thence he sails down the coast of Magna Græcia, and the eastern shore of Sicily, to the promontory Pachynum; thence along the southern shore to the port of Drepanum where he lost his father Anchises; which concludes the book. This book contains the annals of seven years, and is replete with geographical and his. POSTQUAM res Asiæ Priamique evertere gentem NOTES. 1. Res Asia: the power of Asia. 2. Immeritam: undeserving such a calamity. The ruin of their country was owing to the crimes of Paris and Laomedon. See Geor. i. 502, and Æn. i. Visum Superis: it pleased, or seemed good to the gods. This was a common mode of expression, when events were not prosperous. The verb est is to be supplied with visum. 3. Neptunia. Troy is here called Neptunean, because Neptune, with Apollo, it is said, built its walls in the reign of Laomedon. Homer and Virgil ascribe the building of the walls to Neptune alone. Ruæus takes Ilium to mean the citadel of Troy, and distinguishes it from the whole town, which is here expressed by, omnis Troja. Homer uses Ilios, and Ovid, Ilion. Fumat. The present here is much more expressive than the past tense would have been: smokes to the ground. 4. Diversa: in the sense of remota, or longinqua. Although the Trojans, under different leaders, as Æneas, Helenus, and Antenor, settled in different regions, yet diversa exilia plainly refers to Æneas and his followers only, who were all appointed to go in quest of the same settlement. Desertas terras: unoccupied-uncultivated lands; where they might settle in peace. Or, we may suppose Æneas to speak the language of his heart at that time. Having the dismal idea of the destruction of his country fresh in his mind, and the uncertain prospect of a settlement in some unknown land, (incerti quò fata ferant, ubi sistere detur,) it was natural for him to have uncomfortable apprehensions of the country to which he was going; to call it an exile, or place of banishment, a land of solitude and desertion. Some read diversas, for desertas. 5. Auguriis Divûm: by the intimations, or prodigies of the gods. This refers to the several prophetic intimations given to him of his future fate by the ghost of Hec 5 1. Postquam visum est Superis evertere res Asiæ 7. Ferant nos, ubi detur nobis sistere pedem tor-by the lambent flame on the head of Ascanius-and by the interview which he had with the ghost of Creusa. Ominibus Deorum, says Ruæus. 6. Antandro. Antandros was a city of the lesser Phrygia, at the foot of mount Ida, and a convenient place to build and equip a fleet. Molimur: in the sense of fabricamus. surprised to hear Æneas express any doubt 7. Incerti quò. We may be somewhat as to his course and intended settlement. He had been distinctly informed by the destined for him in the counsels of the gods: ghost of his wife, that Italy was the place he could not therefore have given full credence to the account; or the dangers and difficulties of the undertaking might have filled his mind with anxious and distrustful apprehensions: or perhaps it is a passage, which the author would have corrected, if he had lived to revise his work. 8. Prima astas. Scaliger thinks that Troy was taken about the full moon, and near the end of spring, and that Æneas set out the beginning of summer. But it is evident that it would require a greater length of time to build a fleet, and make other preparations for his long voyage. If he be correct in the time of the capture of Troy, the prima astas, with more propriety, will mean the beginning of the summer of the following year. This better agrees with history. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, informs us that he collected an army and fortified himself on mount Ida; but not thinking it prudent to engage the enemy, he capitulated on honorable terms; one of which was, that he should be allowed to depar from Troas with his followers without mo lestation, after a certain time, which he employed in building and equipping a fleet. 9. Fatis: quò fata vellent, says Ruæus Propter jussa et monita Deorum, says Heyne. Some copies have ventis. |