537. Hìc vidi in gra- Quatuor hìc, primum omen, equos in gramine vidi mine primum omen, Tondentes campum latè, candore nivali. nempe, quatuor equos è aivali candore, tonden tes Et pater Anchises: Bellum, & terra hospita, portas: Bello armantur equì: bellum hæc armenta minet ir 539. Et pater Anchi- Sed tamen îdem olim curru succedere sueti ses inquit Quadrupedes, et fræna jugo concordia ferre : Spes est pacis, ait. Tum numina sancta precamur Palladis armisonæ, quæ prima accepit ovantes: 545. Et velamur quoad Et capita ante aras Phrygio velamur amictu; capita Phrygio amictu Præceptisque Heleni, dederat quæ maxima, ritè ante ejus aras; exque Junoni Argivæ jussos adolemus honores. præceptis Heleni, 548 Haud mora est 541 545 Haud mora: continuò, perfectis ordine votis, NOTES. bled towers, and stretched forth on both sides in the form of arms, making a double wall. Refugit. While they were at a distance, the temple appeared near the shore; but, as they approached, the distance between it and the port seemed to increase. It receded, or fled, from the shore. 537. Hic vidi: here I saw the first omen. It was a custom among the ancients carefully to observe the first objects which presented at landing in a country where they designed to form settlements: and hence to draw prognostics of their future good or bad fortune. Tondentes: in the sense of carpentes. Gramine: in the sense of pratis. 539. Hospita. This Ruæus interprets by hospitalis; but that illy agrees with portus bellum. Mr. Davidson renders it, foreign: to which we are strangers. 541. Curru: for currui, the dat. See Ecl. v. 29. Concordia fræna: the gentle reins. This implies perfect submission to the will of the driver. Jugo. Jugum properly signifies the yoke which passes over the necks of the horses, and holds up the tongue or pole of the carriage. Here, perhaps, the harness in general. Olim: in the sense of diu. 543. Numina: in the sense of divinitatem. 544. Armisona: sounding in arms. This is an epithet of Pallas, or Minerva, as goddess of war. Ovantes: in the sense of latos. Nos is understood. 547. Adolemus jussos honores. Ruæus interprets these words by, offerimus præscripta sacrificia. Jussos: ordered, or appointed by Helenus. See 435. supra, et sequens. 548. Continuò immediately-forthwith. Rupus considers it an adj. agreeing with Perfectis: in the sense of persolutis. : 549. Velatarum antennarum. The antenna were spars or yards which crossed the mast, to which the sails were fastened and suspended. The extremities of them were called cornua. By shifting or turning his sails, he would naturally alter his course. He now sails southward; and, as he passes along, he gives us a very particular description of the country. He takes his departure from the promontory of läpygium. 551. Tarenti. Tarentum was a famous city and port at the northern extremity of the Sinus Tarentinus, founded by Taras, the son of Neptune, according to Straba. The same author informs us that Hercules had here a colossus of brass, made by Lysippus, which Fabius Maximus carried to Rome. Not only the city, but also the adjacent country, was famous for the actions of that hero. Hence the poet gives it the epithet, Herculean. 552. Contrà: on the other side (of the bay) the goddess Lacinia raises herself. Diva Lacinia is here put for the temple of the goddess, by meton. Lacinia as an epithet of Juno, taken from the promontory Lacinium, on which the temple stood. 553. Arces Coulonis: the towers of Cau lon, or Caulonia. Caulon was a city farther south, at first called Aulonia, from a valley, which was in sight. It was founded by the Greeks. Scylacæum. This was a city situated near the southern extremity of a bay of that name, founded by a colony of Athenians, according to Strabo. The uavigation on this coast was dangerous.— Hence it is called nuvifrogum. 554. Etna: a well known mountain and volcano on the island of Sicily. It is said to be sixty miles in circumference at its Et gemitum ingentem pelagi, pulsataque saxa Haud minùs ac jussi faciunt: primusque rudentem NOTES. 560. Pariter: equally-all as one. 561. Minus: in the sense of aliter. in the sense of quàm. Ac: 562. Palinurus primus: Palinurus first turned the creaking prow to the left waters. Some read rudente, for rudentem, a sub. instead of the part. By this they would understand a rope fastened to the side of the ship, by the help of which the helmsman turned the ship which way he pleased. Ruæus interprets it by stridentem: creaking as it plunged into the waves. 563. Cuncta cohors: in the sense of omnes socii. 564. Gurgite: in the sense of fluctu. 565. Manes. These properly were that part of the dead, which the ancients supposed to be below-the shade, or ghost. Sometimes it is used for the place of the dead, and sometimes for the infernal gods. The plain meaning is: that when they were on the top of a surge, or wave, they were elevated very high; and when they were in a hollow between two waves, they descended very low; in other words, the sea here was very rough. 566. Clamorem in the sense of sonitum. 567. Rorantia astra: the stars bedewed, 555 560 560. Eripite vos hinc, ô socii 565 561. Illi faciunt haud minùs ac jussi facere 563. Lævam partem remis 568. Nos fessos eum sole 570. Portus est immo570 tus ab accessu or besprinkled. This is an extravagant hyperbole. Catrou, and some others, would understand this of the dewy drops, which thrown up by the dashing of the waters against the rocks, sparkled like stars in the sun-beams. This appears to be the opinion of Heyne. 568. Ventus cum sole. These circumstances have a happy effect in preparing the reader for the following description of mount Etna. The winds are hushed, that the bellowings of the mountain might be more distinctly heard; and night is brought on that in the dusky sky the flames might appear more conspicious. 569. Cyclopum. It is said the Cyclops were the first inhabitants of Sicily, especial ly about mount Etna. They are said to have been of gigantic stature, and of a nature savage, cruel, and inhospitable. Hence the poets took occasion to represent them of a monstrous form, having only one eye, and that in their forehead, and as being cannibals. From their vicinity to Etna, it is said, they were employed by Vulcan in forging the thunderbolts of Jupiter. The port, where Eneas landed, was near the place where the city Catanea now stands, near the foot of mount Etna. The Cyclops were supposed to be the sons of Çelus and Terra. They took their name from the circumstance of their having but one eye. This tradition originated from their custom of their wearing small bucklers of steel, which covered their faces. These had a small aperture in the middle, which corresponded exactly to the eye. They were reckoned among the gods, and had a temple dedicated to them at Corinth. Etna is now called mount Gibel, and stands not far from the eastern shore of Sicily. Its modern name implies, the mount of mounts. 570. Ingens: in the sense of capax. Ipse; sed horrificis juxtà tonat Ætna ruinis: per eum 583. Nos tecti in syl- Noctem illam tecti sylvis immania monstra vis perferimus 590. Nova forma viri Perferimus nec, quæ sonitum det causa, videmus. Nam neque erant astrorum ignes, nec lucidus æthrâ Sidereâ polus; obscuro sed nubila cœlo, Et Lunam in nimbo nox intempesta tenebat. Postera jamque dies primo surgebat Eoo, Humentemque Aurora polo dimoverat umbram; ignoti nobis, confecta Cùm subitò è sylvis, macie confecta supremâ, suprema macie, mise- Ignoti nova forma viri, miserandaque cultu, randaque cultu, proce- Procedit, supplexque manus ad litora tendit. dit è sylvis, Respicimus. Dira illuvies, immissa que barba, 593. Dira illuvies erat Consertum tegmen spinis: at cætera Graius, 594. At quoad cætera Et quondam patriis ad Trojam missus in armis. Isque ubi Dardanios habitus et Troïa vidit ei erat NOTES. 575 580 586 500 595 572. Prorumpit: in the sense of emittit. 573. Candente favillâ: with hot, or burning embers. 574. Lambit: in the sense of tangit. 576. Eructans: in the sense of evomens. Avulsa: torn loose. to them-the appearances were new and unexpected. Hence they may be called with propriety, immania monstra. Polus 585. Ignes: lights of the stars. lucidus: nor the heaven bright in the starry firmament. Polus, by synec. put for the 577. Glomerat: and whirls about melted whole heaven. rocks into the air. 578. Fama est: there is a report, that the body of Enceladus, half consumed by lightning, is pressed under this mass of matter; and that ponderous Etna being placed upon hin, casts up flames from its burst furnaces; and as often as he, &c. Virgil here gives us the fabulous account of the origin of this burning mountain, and the cause of its eruptions. Enceladus was the chief of the Giants, and the son of Titan and Terra. In the war of the Giants against the gods, he was struck with the thunderbolt of Jupiter, and placed under mount Etna, by way of punishment: and, as often as he turns his weary side, an cruption follows. Ovid places Typhous, another of the Giants, under the same mountain. Insuper in the sense of super. 580. Expirare: in the sense of emittere. 583. Immania monstra: in the sense of infanda prodigia. Illam noctem: in the sense of per illam noctem. 584. Perferimus: we endure or suffer. The cause of this eruption was unknown 587. Intempesta nox: profound darkness. It properly signifies the darkest time of night-midnight. Here it denotes the quality of that night in particular, when one face of thick darkness prevailed through the whole night, like that which prevailed at the midnight hour. Nimbo: in the sense of nebuloso aëre. 588. Primo Eoo: with the first dawn. Eous, the star Venus. When it rises before the sun, it is called Lucifer; when setting after him, Hesperus: here put for the dawn of day. Aurora. See Geor. i. 249. 590. Confecta supremâ: wasted away with extreme leanness. Confecta agrees with forma. 591. Nova forma viri ignoti: simply, a man unknown to us. 594. Tegmen consertum: his covering sewed, or fastened together with thorns. It probably consisted of the leaves of trees. Ruæus says, vestis contexta spinis. At cœtera: but as to other things-his stature, gait, language, &c. he was a Greek. 596. Habitus: in the sense of vestes. Arma procul, paulùm aspectu conterritus hæsit, Pro quo, NOTES. 597. Hasit: hesitated-paused. 599. Testor: in the sense of precor. 600. Hoc spirabile lumen by this vital light of heaven-by this light (air) of heaven, which we breathe, and by which we live. Lumen: in the sense of aër, vel aura. 603. Iliacos Penates. The Penates properly were the household gods-the gods of one's country. Hence the word came to signify, one's house and country, and whatever a person held most dear, by meton. See En. ii. 717. 604. Pro quo: for which-for his being a Greek, and having taken part in the war against Troy. Sceleris injuria. Ruæus says, iniquitas criminis. Si scelus meum tantum est, says Heyne. 605. Spargite: in the sense of projicite : tear me in pieces, and cast me into the sea. 606. Si pereo, &c. Dr. Wharton makes the following reflections upon this passage. Nothing, says he, can more forcibly strike the imagination, than these circumstances of the wandering Trojans, sheltered in a wood, upon an unknown coast, and hearing strange and terrible noises during a dark and moonless night; and not knowing whence the dreadful sounds proceeded, or by what they might be occasioned. At daybreak, how sudden and great the surprise, to see the ghastly figure of a man, who first runs towards them with great precipitation, as if to beg some assistance; but suddenly starts back at the sight of Trojan habits and arms. At last, recovering himself a little, he resolves to fling himself into their hands, whatever might be the consequence. Received into a vessel, he gives them the dreadful narration of Polyphemus, informs them that this was the island of the Cyclops, begs them to leave it instantly, and concludes most pathetically, that if he must die, it would be some comfort to him to perish by the hands of men, and not by monsters. 607. Amplexus embracing our knees, and falling upon his own knees, he clung to us. Servius observes, that the several members of the body were consecrated to particular deities: the ear, to memory; the knees, to mercy; the right hand, to faith. Suppliants were accustoined to throw, or cast themselves upon their knees, and embrace those of the person of whom they asked or begged any thing. 603. Cretus: in the sense of ortus. 610. Haud multa moratus: delayed not a moment. 611. Præsenti pignore. The right hand among all nations is considered a pledge of friendship. Præsens here signifies, readypropitious. So adsum, I am present, signifies also, to favor-to be propitious. 613. Ithaca: an island in the Ionian sea. It formed a part of the dominion of Ulysses. Hodie, Isola del Compare. 614. Adamasto: Adamastus my father being a poor man. He mentions his poverty as an excuse for his going to the war; it was not his choice. Sinon pleads the same excuse. See Æn. ii. 87. Utinam : I wish the same state of poverty had remained to me! 617. Cyclopis. Polyphemus is here meant. It is said he was the son of Neptune and Thoosa, the daughter of Phorcys. It is said that Ulysses, on his return from Troy, 618. Ejus domus in- Deseruere. Domus sanie dapibusque cruentis, tus est opaca, ingens, et Intus opaca, ingens: ipse arduus, altaque pulsat plena sanie Sidera; Dî, talem terris avertite pestem! Nec visu facilis, nec dictu affabilis ulli. Visceribus miserorum, et sanguine vescitur atro. 623 Egomet vidi, cùm Vidi egomet, duo de numero cùm corpora nostro, ille resupinus in medio Prensa manu magnâ, medio resupinus in antro, antro frangeret duo corpora de nostro numero, Frangeret ad saxum, sanieque aspersa natarent orensa magnâ manù, ad Limina: vidi, atro cùm membra fluentia tabo Manderet, et tepidi tremerent sub dentibus artus. 628. Fecit id quidem Haud impunè quidem: nec talia passus Ulysses, haud impunè: nec Ulys- Oblitusve sui est Ithacus discrimine tanto. ses passus est talia saxum 620 625 Nam simul expletus dapibus, vinoque sepultus 630 635 NOTES. visited Sicily, and the straits of Messina. He lost a part of his fleet in the whirlpool of Charybdis. This was a dangerous place to all who attempted to pass the straits. It gave rise to this proverb: Incidit in Scyllam, qui vult vitare Charybdim, implying that in avoiding one evil, we frequently fall into a greater. But no whirlpool is now to be found, sufficiently large to answer to the description given by the poets and other ancient writers. It is probable some change aas been effected in this part of the sea in the course of time. 621. Nec facilis visu: nor is he easy to be looked upon, nor easy to be spoken to by any one. His terrific aspect fills you with dread, and deprives you of the power of speech. Servius says: Cujus possit etiam aspectus ferre formidinem; and Stephens: Cujus ne aspectum quidem facile quis sus tineat. 625. Limina aspera. Limen properly signifies the threshold of the door; also the door itself, by meton. If it be taken in this sense here, then limina aspersa sanie natareni may mean : the door being bespattered with the blood, trickled or ran down. Ruæus says, porta. It may be taken either way. 627. Manderet: in the sense of devoraret. 629. Ithacus a name of Ulysses, from Ithaca, his native island. Tanto discrimine: in so important a crisis-in so great danger. 631. Inflexam: bent, or reclined. Persons in a complete state of intoxication are unable to hold their heads erect. They recline them either upon their shoulders or breast. This was the case with Polyphemus. His head was reclined before he lay down to sleep. 632. Immensus. Some read immensum, to agree with antrum. But immensus is preferable, referring to the dimensions of Polyphemus. Frusta commixta: pieces (of human bodies) mingled with bloody wine. Per somnum is to be connected with eructans. 634. Sortiti vices: having drawn by lot our parts to act, all at once, we surround him from all quarters, and dig out, &c. Donatus thinks it should be tenebramus, instead of terebramus: we darken, or extinguish the light of his eye: which would express, as he thinks, the quickness and celerity of their action. But Homer, whom Virgil here follows, expressly mentions the circumstance of the boring out of the monster's eye; and compares the action of Ulysses and his companions to a carpenter boring a piece of timber. Circùmfundimur, is probably here used in the sense of the middle voice of the Greeks. 636. Latebat: lay concealed; because his eye was shut in sleep. Quod solum, &c. The Cyclops are represented as having only one eye, and that one in their forehead. This is doubtless a fiction. No such people ever existed. Eustathius explains the fable thus: that in violent passion, men see only one single object, as that passion directs; in other words, see with one eye only and further, that passion transports men into savages, and renders them brutal and sanguinary, like Polyphemus; and he, who by reason extinguishes that passion, may be said to put out that eye. Others explain it by alleging that Polyphemus was a man of uncommon wisdom and penetration, who is therefore re presented as having only one eye, and thax : |