Victor apud rapidum Simoënta sub Ilio alto, NOTES of mail usually consisted of several thin plates of iron or brass, which were fastened together with hooks or rings. Hence consertam hamis. See En. iii. 467. and vii. 639. 264. Multiplicem. Multiplex, any thing consisting of many folds, or thicknesses. Of multum et plico. 265. Agebal palantes Troas. The poet here pays to Æneas a very high compliment in an indirect manner. For if Damoleus was able to drive before him whole troops of Trojans, flying in confusion and dismay: how great a hero must he be, who slew this mighty champion! 266. Facit in the sense of dat. This present was given to Gyas, who came in the third victor. Signis: with figures-with carved work. 265 . 269. Evincti quoad 270 tempora ratem 270. Cùm Sergestus agebat irrisam sine honore, vix revulsus è sævo scopulo mul tâ artê, remis annissis, 275 atque debilis uno ordine. 275. Aut viator gravis ictu liquit seminecem, lacerumque saxo; 280 285 278. Altera pars clauda 285. Cressa quoad genus, nomine Pholoë, geminique this means all the oars on one side. But this cannot be, since the galley had three banks or tiers of oars on a side. 273. Aggere viæ. Agger viæ is properly the eminence or the highest part of the road; which is raised or cast up in the middle for the purpose of carrying off the rain. 276. Dat: in the sense of movet vel format. Tortus: in the sense of flexus. 278. Retentat: in the sense of moratur. Nexantem nodos: in the sense of torquentem se in nodos. Heyne reads, nodis. 284. Serva datur. The games here are imitated from Homer. In that barbarous age, that one of the prizes should be a female, is no matter of wonder. Haud ignara: not unskilled in the works of Minerva ; that is, in manufactures. The Cretans were very skilful in manufactures and the works 268. Donati: were rewarded. The verb of the loom. sunt is to be supplied. 270. Revulsus. Some copies have revulsam, agreeing with ratem vel navem. But revulsus, referring to Sergestus, is the most approved reading. If revulsam be read, then We must read debilem, instead of debilis. 21. Debilis uno ordine: disabled in one bank or tier of oars. Dr. Trapp thinks 286. Certamine: in the sense of ludo. Misso: in the sense of finito, vel dimisso. 289. Erat circus theatri. The theatrum was the place at Rome appropriated for scenical representations. See Geor. ii. 381 The circus was destined for the celebration of the Roman games, especially horse-races It was built by Tarquinius Priscus, betwee Consessu medium tulit, extructoque resedit. 291. Hic pretiis invi- Hìc, qui fortè velint rapido contendere cursu, tat animos eorum, qui Invitat pretiis animos, et præmia ponit. fortè velint 298. Salius, simul et Patron secutus est hunc 300. Tum secuti sunt duo Trinacrii secuti sunt; Undique conveniunt Teucri, mixtique Sicani : Euryalus formâ insignis, viridique juventâ ; 290 295 Hunc Salius, simul et Patron; quorum alter Acarnan; 302. Prætereà multi Multi prætereà, quos fama obscura recondit. scura kina Gnossia lucida lævato ferro, 306. Dabo iis ferre Gnossia bina dabo lævato lucida ferro 311. Alter victor ha- Primus equum phaleris insignem victor habeto. beto NOTES. the mountains Aventinus and Palatinus, for the celebration of games in imitation of the Olympic games. This Sicilian valley, having some resemblance to it, is therefore called circus theatri, the circuit of a theatre. See Geor. ii. 381. 290. Resedit, &c. The meaning probably is, that Eneas sat down upon an eminence that had been erected for the occasion. In this case, loco is to be understood with extructo: on a place built up. Rumus seems to think otherwise: he says, in composito cætu resedit. By connecting consessu with extructo, he implies that the company or assembly sat down on an elevated place. And it is no way improbable that Eneas, with some of the chief men, was seated in the centre of the whole assembly on an elevated place, that they might be the more conspicuous. There seems to be here an allusion to the custom, in the Roman camp, of the general to address his soldiers from the agger, or suggestus. 292. Pretiis. By pretium we may understand the value of the rewards; and, by præmia, the rewards themselves. 296. Pio amore. Pius amor signifies a generous, tender, and disinterested love, such as that of parents to children. An account of the love of Euryalus for Nisus, we have in the 9th book, verse 176, and following. Nothing can more forcibly set forth his love for the lal, than that to der expostulation in his fair, verse 42′′ et seq. quod ide. 300 305 310 298. Salius. The names here mentioned are not of the poet's invention. Varro says that Salius came into Italy with Evander, and there instituted the Salian dance; which was performed by persons clad in armour, in honor of Mars. Acarnan, a native of Acarnania: a region of Epirus. 299. Tegeææ gentis. Tegea was a city of Arcadia, sacred to Pan. Patron was a na tive of this city, and Salius was of Epirus. Heyne reads Arcadio, an adj. agreeing with sanguine: of Arcadian blood. But Arcadia is the common reading. 302. Quos fama: whose names, fame ob scure by length of time, hath concealed from us. 304. Mentes: thoughts-attention. 306. Gnossia spicula: Gnossian darts. Gnossius, an adj. from Gnossus, a city of Crete, whose darts and missive weapons were very much celebrated. The spiculum was about five feet long, tipped with steel of a triangular form: hence lucida lavato ferro: shining with polished steel. It was the same with the pilum, a military weapon, used by footmen; which, in a charge, they darted against the enemy. 309. Nectentur: they shall be bound, as to the head, with yellow olive. This alludes to the conquerors at the Olympic games, who were crowned with garlands of olive leaves, which are of a yellow color. The olive was sacred to Minerva. 311. Amazoniam : an Amazonian quiver; one of the same form with those that the Amazons used. They were said to have Threïciis; lato quam circùmplectitur auro Euryalumque Elymus sequitur. Quo deinde sub ipso NOTES. been a nation of females inhabiting a part of Thrace. Much is said of them among the ancients, the greater part of which is doubtless fable. Alter: in the sense of secundus. 312. Circumplectitur. The common reading is circùm amplectitur. Heyne reads, circumplectitur, and observes that the best copies do the same. Balleus lato auro. Ruæus says, latus balteus ex auro. 316. Relinquunt limen: they leave the mark, rushing forth like a tempest. Corripiunt spatia: they seize the first groundthey start. Limen. In the Roman circus, when at the height of its magnificence, the racers started from under a kind of portico; over whose threshold they leaped. Hence limen came to signify the starting place. In a temporary circus, such as the one here mentioned, a line drawn in the sand served as the barrier, or starting place. Spatium we may suppose to be the whole ground lying between the carcer and meta. The race was twice that distance, or divided in the middle by the meta, or turning place. Hence the propriety of the plu. spatia, as applied to the race ground. 317. Signant, &c. Notant oculis, animo 315 320 325 312. Balteus è lato auro 315. Ubi hæc sunt dicta, omnes 321. Deinde, spatio relicto pòst Salium, Euryalus sequitur tertius 323. Sub quo ipso ecce Diores deinde volat 326. Certamen ambi guum 329. Ut fortè ex juvencis cæsis fusus erat 331 super humum, madefeceratque virides herbas. 334. Ille non oblitus 335 est Euryali, non` oblitus 340 est amorum 335. Lubrica loca 336. Ille Salius jacuit 338. Tenet prima spatia, volatque que designant metam, says Heyne. They fix their eyes steadfast!y upon the goal. Uitima: spatia is understood. 318. Omnia corpora: all the rest. Nisus is to be taken with primus. He gets the start of all the others. 323. Sub quo ipso: close up to whom-to Elymus. 325. Si plura spatia supersint: if there had been more distance to run, he would have overtaken Elymus and gotten ahead of him; or at least left the victory doubtful. 332. Haud tenuit: did not hold firm his tottering steps, &c. : 337. Munere in the sense of beneficio. 339. Post Elymus subit: afterward Elymus comes out; and now Diores (comes out) the third victor. Palma: the prize, or victory itself, put by meton. for the victor or conqueror. 340. Ingentis caveœ. The middle part or area of the Roman theatre was called cavea, because it was considerably lower than the other parts of it. Here the common people had their seats. It was capable of containing 80,000 men. By synec. put for the whole theatre. Prima patrum magnis Salius clamoribus implet; Qui subiit palmæ: frustràque ad præmia venit 345 Tum pater Eneas, Vestra, inquit, munera vobis Certa manent, pueri, et palmam movet ordine nemo. 350 Sic fatus, tergum Gætuli immane leonis Dat Salio, villis onerosum atque unguibus aureis. Hic Nisus, Si tanta, inquit, sunt præmia victis, Et te lapsorum miseret; quæ munera Niso Digna dabis, primam merui qui laude coronam 356. Ni eadem inimica Ni me, quæ Salium, fortuna inimica tulisset? fortuna tulisset me, quæ Et simul his dictis faciem ostentabat, et udo tulit Salium Turpia membra fimo. Risit pater optimus olli, 362. Pòst, ubi cursus Et clypeum efferri jussit, Didymaonis artes, confecti sunt, et peregit Neptuni sacro Danais de poste refixum. dona, Eneas inquit: Hoc juvenem egregium præstanti munere donat. Nunc, si sit cui virtus, Post, ubi confecti cursus, et dona peregit: animusque præsens in Nunc, si cui virtus animusque in pectore præsens, pectore, ille adsit, et attollat brachia evinctis Adsit, et evinctis attollat brachia palmis. Sic ait, et geminum pugnæ proponit honorem : palmis NOTES. 355 360 365 341. Salius implet prima ora: Salius fills the whole assembly of the huge pit, and the foremost seats of the fathers, &c. Virgil here applies a verb to two nouns, though in strict propriety it suits only one of them. Implet concessum is very proper, but implet prima ora can only be used in poetry. The patres and principal men sat in the first or foremost seats; hence the epithet prima. The meaning appears to be this: that Salius standing before, or in front of the patres or principal men, demanded the palm of victory in loud and vociferous language, which filled the ears of the whole assembly. Prima ora patrum: in the sense of privres ordines, quibus seniores sedebant. 344. Veniens: in the sense of existens, vel apparens. 346. Venit ad ultima præmia. The three first, by the condition of the race, were to have a prize. And Diores, who was next to Elymus, was entitled to the third or last, provided Salius was set aside, and Euryalus allowed to have the first prize. 351. Tergum: in the sense of pellem. 352. Onerosum villis: heavy with shag and golden claws. The fur of lions and other wild beasts were worn in ancient times by persons of distinction, and their claws were often gilt for ornament and show. Africa was infested with lions and other wild beasts of prey, especially Gatulia, whose lions are said to have been the largest, and the most savage. 355. Laude: in the sense of virtute in cursu. Coronam: honor-reward. Merui: in the sense of meruissem. 356. Tulissel. This verb here has a peculiar signification: to bear down, to overit by Hypallage: for tulissem inimicam forpower, or get the better of. Some explain takes tulisset in the sense of obstitisset. tunam; but this is hardly allowable. Rumus 359. Artes: the workmanship of Didymaon. This is a fictitious name, signifying a skilful or ingenious workman. 360. Refixum Danais: torn down by the Greeks from the sacred post of Neptune's temple. Servius thinks that this was a buckler or shield, which Pyrrhus had taken from Neptune's temple in the sacking of Troy; and that after his death it fell into the hands of Helenus, who presented it to Æneas at his departure from Epirus. was usual to fix up arms won from the enemy on the door posts of the temples, as consecrated offerings to the gods. It 363. Virtus. This, for the most part, signifies military bravery, skill, and prowess. These the ancients considered the most valuable qualities and the first virtues. 364. Palmis: with his hands bound with the gauntlet. Victori velatum auro vittisque juvencum; Ora Dares, magnoque virûm se murmure tollit: Hic gravis Entellum dictis castigat Acestes, NOTES. 366. Velatum auro vittisque: ornamented with gold and fillets-simply, golden fillets, by hendiadis. It was customary to adorn the oxen with fillets, and gild their horns, both when they were designed for sacrifice, and also when they were to be given away as rewards of merit. 370. Paridem. Paris, the son of Priam, though dissolute and effeminate in his morals, was naturally strong and valiant, as appears from Homer, and always behaved himself well in arms. He is said to have been superior to Hector in the gauntlet fight. Murmure: applause-shouts of applause. 371. Quo maximus Hector. It is said, upon the death of Hector there was a truce of two months between the Greeks and Trojans, during which games were celebrated by the latter at Hector's tomb on the promontory of Sigeum; where Dares distinguished himself. 372. Buten perculit: he smote victorious Butes, of huge body, who boasted that he sprung from the Bebrycian race of Amycus, &c. The Butes here mentioned was not the son of Amycus and father of Eryx, for he must have been dead long before; but of another of the same name, who lived in the time of the Trojan wars, and boasted to be of the same race as the other. 373. Bebryciâ. This was the original name of Bythinia, a province of Asia Minor. Here Amycus reigned. He is said to have received no person into his dominions, only 370 375 380 367. Victo ensem at que insignem galeam quæ sint solatia ejus. 371. Idemque Dares ad tumulum, quo maximus Hector occubat,perculit victorem Buten immani corpore, qui ferebat se, utpote veniens de Bebryciâ gente Amyci, et extendit eum moribun dum in flava arenà. 384. Quòusque decet 385 me teneri 386. Promissa præmia reddi on the condition that they would try the gauntlet with him. He was at last vanquished and slain by Pollux, one of the Argonauts, 379. Audet adire virum: dares engage the man, and draw the gauntlets on his hands. It is not easy to say what was the exact nature of the cæstus. Some take it to be a kind of club or bludgeon, with lead at the end. It is more probable, however, it was a sort of leathern guard for the hands and arms, composed of thongs, and filled with lead to add force and weight to the blow. It was bound about the hands and arms, as high as the elbows, both as a guard, and to keep them from slipping off. This explains evinctis palmis, 364, supra. To this, the account which Virgil here gives of the weapon best agrees. The word castus most probably is derived from the word cado. The gauntlet fight was so cruel and bloody that the celebrated Lycurgus made a law forbidding the Spartans to practise it. 380. Excedere palmâ: to decline or leave the prize-to depart from it. 381. Plura moratus. Ruæus says, diutiùs plu. is taken adverbially in imitation of the tardans. Plura here, properly an adj. neu. Greeks. 384. Standi: in the sense of expectandi. 385. Fremebant ore: they all expressed approbation with their mouths. |