Is this one of the books which Virgil read in the presence of Augustus and Octavia? What is the subject of it? What is the nature of it? What, probably, suggested to the poet this fine episode? Can you mention any others who, according to the poets, visited those regions? What, probably, was the object of the poet in conducting his hero thither? In what light does bishop Warburton consider this book? Were these mysteries in great repute at one time in Greece? Is there no difficulty in this interpretation? What are the principal difficulties? Is it certain that Virgil was ever initiated into those mysteries? If he had been acquainted with them, is it probable he would have divulged them? What does Heyne say upon this subject ? At what place in Italy did Æneas land? Who founded the city of Cumœ? What celebrated temple was there? By whom was it built? Who was Dædalus? What is said of him? Was there any curiously carved work upon the doors of this temple? What was this sculpture designed to represent? What was the residence of the Sibyl? By whose inspiration did she give prophetic responses? What direction did she give Æneas in regard to his descent to the regions below? Where was this golden bough to be found? In what way did he find it? To whom was the bough considered sacred? Where does the poet represent the entrance to those regions? What did Æneas and his guide do immediately preceding their descent? What is the lake Avernus properly? Why was that thought to give admission to the regions of the dead? From what circumstance did it receive the name of Avernus ? What is its Greek name? According to the poets, how many rivers watered the realms of Pluto? What were their names? Which one was said to flow around them nine times? Why did the gods swear by the river -x? If they violated their oath, what was the penalty? Who was Charon? What was his employment? From what historical fact is this fable supposed to be derived? On the approach of Æneas, what did the ferryman do? What effect had the sight of the golden bough upon him? What punishment had he received for carrying over Hercules? Who was said to be the door keeper of Pluto's realms? How many heads had Cerberus? What did Hercules do to him? What did the Sibyl do that he might permit them to pass? How many were represented as judges of the dead? What were their names? Who Radamanthus? Why were they made judges of the dead? How was Minos employed, when Æneas visited his court? As he passed along, and viewed the vanous apartments, did he see Dido? What effect had the sight of her upon him? What passage of the Odyssey had Virgil here in view? What was the conduct of Ajax? Where did he see the place of punishment? What is the ineaning of the word Phlegethon? From what language is it derived? From the palace of Pluto, where then did Æneas and the Sibyl go? Whom did they meet in the way? What was the employinent of Orpheus? What poet was distinguished above all the rest? Why was no mention made of Homer? Who was Musæt:s? When did he flourish? Are there any fragments of his poems extant? What information did Musæus give them? Where did they find Anchises? In what part of the regions below? How was Anchises engaged at that time? Was he expecting the arrival of his son? What was the nature of their meeting? Anchises explained to Æneas the system of the world upon the Pythagorean and Platonic philosophy: what were some of the leading points of that philosophy? Had this philosophy many advocates? Who was the inventor of the doctrine of transmigration? What were some of its leading principles ? According to the principles of that philosophy, Anchises points out to his son a list of distinguished men who were to descend from him: can you mention some of their names? Whom does he specially mention? Was Augustus highly pleased with any part of this book? What part was that? Is it said that Octavia fainted at the men tion of Marcellus? Who was this Marcellus? What did Augustus order to be given Virgil for each line of that eulogium? To how much would that amount in sterling money? What leading doctrine of religion and morality does the poet here inculcate ? Are the punishments here inflicted in proportion to the offence? Is that a principle founded in reason and justice? How long was the time assigned for a visit to the regions below? Through which gate did Æneas ascend to the upper regions? How many gates were there? What is the most probable reason that can be given for his ascent through the ivory gate? LIBER SEPTIMUS. FROM Caïata, or Cajeta, Æneas pursues his course westward, and arrives in the Tiber, in the kingdom of Latium; where he was kindly entertained by Latinus, then advanced in age. He had an only daughter, the heiress of his crown, then young and beautiful. Many of the neighboring princes sought her in marriage; among whom was Turnus, king of the Rutuli, every way worthy of her; and whose addresses were pleasing to her mother Amata. For several reasons, however, her father was opposed to the match; particularly, on account of the responses of the oracle of Faunus. From this he learned that a foreigner was destined to be his son-in-law. He conceived Æneas to be the person pointed out by the oracle, and accordingly proposed to him a match with his daughter. In the mean time, Juno, displeased at the friendly reception of the Trojans, and especially at the proposal of the king, set about to frustrate it. For this purpose, she called Alecto from below. Through her means Turnus is roused to arms, and a skish brought about between some Latin shepherds and rustics on one side, and the Trojans on the other; in which Almon, the eldest son of Tyrrhus, the royal herdsman, was slain. This kindles the war. Both Turnus and the Latins repair to the palace of the king, and urge him to an immediate declaration of war. The aged monarch resists their importunity. In this state, things remain, till Juno descends from above, and opens the brazen doors. The report is soon spread abroad that war is begun. The neighboring nations join Turnus, and make a common cause of the war. The poet concludes by giving us an account of the auxiliaries, and their respective leaders. Throughout the whole, he has displayed a great degree of taste and judgment. In these six last books, the poet has imitated the Iliad of Homer. A celebrated critic, Valpy observes, accuses Virgil of losing, instead of increasing, În interest, in these books. The Trojan and Greek heroes, whose names have been familiar with us from infancy, disappear; and we are introduced to personages of whom we have not before heard; and whose names do not appear elsewhere either in fable or history. But he does not consider, in making his charge, that the poet wrote for his own countrymen, and not for us. The adventures of Eneas in Italy, little as we may be interested in them, relate to the supposed ancestors of the Romans, to their domestic history, and to the foundation of their empire. The narration must, therefore, have then excited emotions in which we do not partake; and caused an interest in them, to which we, as we are situated, and at this distance of time, are strangers. TU quoque litoribus nostris, Encïa nutrix, 3. Nomen tuum signat Et nunc servat honos sedem tuus; ossaque nomen Dives inaccessos ubi Solis filia lucos 15. Hinc gemitus cœ- Hinc exaudiri gemitus, iræque lconum perunt exaudiri atque ursi auditi sævire Sævire, ac formæ magnorum ululare luporum : Circe induerat Induerat Circe in vultus ac terga ferarum. NOTES. 1. Tu quoque. This refers to what he had told us in the preceding book, verse 232, et sequens, of the monument erected to the memory of Misenus, on the Italian coast. Thou, also, O Cajeta, didst give, &c. 3. Tuus honos. Some consider this an hypallage, for sedes servat tuum honorem: the place preserves thy honor. But perhaps her name may be considered a kind of guardian to the place. In this sense, there is no need of any figure. The words may be taken as they stand: thy honor, or fame, protects the place. This is the better and more poetical. Sedem: in the sense of locum. Ossa: in the sense of sepulchrum. There is a promontory and city in this part of Italy, by the name of Cajeta, or Gaïela. 6. Aggere tumuli conposilo: a tomb being erected. The earth heaped up over the corpse or ashes of the dead, was called agger tumuli. 8. Aura aspirant. Dr. Trapp observes that, down to the 18th line, is, beyond expression, elegant and affecting. A funeral had been just performed. They sail in the still night by the light of the moon. They pass along an enchanted coast, whence they hear the roaring of lions, and other beasts of prey. Upon the four last lines he passes the highest encomium. Candida. As the sun, from his flaming brightness, is called aureus, golden; so the moon, from her paler light, is called candida, white or silvered. 10. Circaa: an adj. from Circe, a celebrated sorceress, the daughter of Sol, and the nymph Perse. She was the sister of Etes, king of Colchis, the father of the fa 5 10 15. 20 mous Medea. 12. Resonat inaccessos lucos: she makes the inaccessible groves resound with her continual song. Not absolutely inaccessible; for Ulysses and his company landed here— but difficult of access. 14. Argulo pectine: the shrill sounding shuttle. 15. Ira: the rage-fury. 18. Forma magnorum luporum: simply, the great wolves. 19. Quos ex facie hominum: whom the cruel goddess Circe had changed from the shape of men, into the apperance and form (terga) of wild beasts, &c. Indueral is evidently to be taken in the sense of mutarerat. Terga: the backs, by synec. for the whole bodies. The fable of Circe is taken from the Odyssey, lib. 10. where Homer informs us that the followers of Ulysses were clanged into swine. He a one was preserved by the aid of Mercury, and the eating of the herb moly. At his request, however, they were restored to their former shapes. Beside poisonous herbs, she made use of a magical wand, with which she touched thein. 21. Quæ talia monstra: any such monstrous changes-shapes--forms. Neptunus ventis implevit vela secundis, Atque fugam dedit, et præter vada fervida vexit. Jamque rubescebat radiis mare, et æthere ab alto 25 Cùm venti posuere, omnisque repentè resedit In mare prorumpit. Varie circùmque supràque Nunc age, qui reges, Erato, quæ tempora, rerum NOTES. 26. Bigis. Aurora is represented by the poets as drawn in a chariot of two horses. Lutea: an adj. from lutum, an herb with which yellow or saffron color is dyed. The poet, here, has given a charming description o. the morning. 27. Posuere in the sense of quieverunt. 28. Tonsa: the oars labor in the smooth surface of the sea. Tonsa, properly, the blade of the oar. Dr. Trapp takes lento, to denote here yielding or giving way to the oar. Marmore the sea unruffled by the wind. 30. Tiberinus inter hunc through this grove, with its pleasant streams and rapid course, (whirls,) yellow with nuch sand, &c. Some take Tiberinus, not for the river itself, but for the god of the river. In this case it may be rendered Tiberinus, god of the pleasant river, in rapid whirls, &c. The prep. è, or ex, being understood. The Tiber is, next to the Po, the largest river in Italy. It rises in the Appennines, and running in a southern direction, dividing Latium from Etruria or Tuscany, falls into the sea by two mouths. Its original name, we are told, was Albula. It took its present name from a Tuscan king, who was killed near it. But Livy says it took its name from Tiberinus, a king of the Albans, who was drowned in it. 34. Mulcebant æthera: they charmed the air with their song. This is highly poetical. 30 35 > tempora, quis status re rum fuerit 40 45 expcdiam qui reges, quæ 47. Accipimus hunc genitum esse Fauno, et Maricâ Laurence Nyinphâ. Picus erat pater The air, calm and still, is represented as listening to the music of the birds that were flying in all directions about the river, and being charmed with their melody. Indeed the whole is extremely beautiful, and cannot be too much admired. It would appear from this, that Eneas arrived in the Tiber about the middle of the spring, when the birds are most lively and musical. 37. Eralo: the muse that presides over love affairs. She is invoked because the following wars were in consequence of the love of Turnus and Eneas for Lavinia. It is derived from the Greek. Rerum. Most commentators connect rerum with tempora; but it is evident its place is after status: what state of things there was in Latium, when first a foreign army arrived on the Italian shores. Heyne connects it with lempora Davidson with status. 42. Animis: in the sense of ira. 45. Latinus. Virgil places Latinus only three gencrations from Saturn. Faunus, Picus, then Saturn. Others place him at the distance of nine. His origin is much obscured. Dionysius of Halicarnassus, agrees with Virgil, that, when Eneas arrived in Italy, Latinus reigned in Latium-that he had no male issue; but an only daughter, whom Eneas married. Arra: the country. Placidas: in the sense of quielas. Accipimus. Fauno Picus pater: ipse parentem Te, Saturne, refert: tu sanguinis ultimus auctor. 50. Fuit nullus filius Filius huic, fato Divûm, prolesque virilis huic Latino fato Deo- Nulla fuit: primâque oriens erepta juventâ est. rum, nulla virilis proles: Sola domum et tantas servabat filia sedes; quæque oriens Jam matura viro, jam plenis nubilis annis. Multi illam magno è Latio totâque petebant Ausoniâ. Petit ante alios pulcherrimus omnes 56. Quem regia con- Turnus, avis atavisque potens: quein regia conjux jux Amata properabat Adjungi generum miro properabat amore. miro amore adjungi ge- Sed variis portenta Deûm terroribus obstant. nerum sibi Laurus erat tecti medio, in penetralibus altis, Sacra comam, multosque metu servata per annos : 61. Quam inventam, Quam pater inventam, primas cùm conderet arces, pater Latinus ipse fere- Ipse ferebatur Phœbo sacrâsse Latinus; batur sacrâsse Phobo, Laurentisque ab eâ nomen posuisse colonis. cùm 64. Densæ apes, vecte Hujus apes summum densa, mirabile dictu! ingenti stridore trans li- Stridore ingenti liquidum trans æthera vectæ, quidum æthera obsedêre Obsedêre apicem: et, pedibus per mutua nexis, summum apicem hujus Examen subitum ramo frondente pependit. arboris. Continuò vates, Externum cernimus, inquit, NOTES. 48. Accipimus: in the sense of audimus. 49. Ultimus auctor: the first or remotest founder of our race. Ultimus, ascending, is the same with primus, descending. Refert: in the sense of habet. 50. Filius huic. It is evident that Latinus had, in the course of his life, male issue; but at that time he had none. It is not said whether he had one, two, or more sons; and we have a right to suppose either. I have supposed that he had, in the course of his life, several, and accordingly have inserted the word quæque, before oriens: quæque oriens: every one growing up was snatched away in early life. 52. Filia sola servabat. By this we are to understand, that his daughter alone preserved his family from extinction, and his kingdom from passing into the hands of others: or that she alone was the heiress of his crown and kingdom―tantas sedes. Totam regionem, says Ruæus. 56. Potens avis atavisque: powerful (in grandfathers and great grandfathers) in his ancestors. The queen was taken with such an illustrious match for her daughter; and accordingly urged, with great importunity, that Turnus should be received into the family as their son-in-law. Amore: Ruæus says, studio. 59. Penetralibus. The interior of a house or palace, though not roofed, may be called penetrale. Such must have been the palace of Latinus; otherwise a stately laurel could not have grown in that place. 50 55 60 65 70 60. Servata metu: preserved with religious awe and veneration. Sacra comam: a Grecism. 63. Laurentis colonis. The name Laurens was originally given to a grove of laurel, near the shore of the Tuscan sea, extending to the east of the Tiber. Hence the neighboring country was called Laurens. Also, the nymph Marica, the wife of Faunus, and mother of Latinus, was called Laurens. Turnus, too, is called Laurens, from the circumstance of this grove bordering upon his dominions. It appears that Latinus only raised fortifications, and embellished the city, which must have been built before; for we are told that his father Picus had erected here a noble palace; see 171. The city, after the time of Latinus, was called Laurentum, from a very large laurel growing on the spot where he founded the tower. This, however, was the common name of the whole neighboring country, from the grove above mentioned. The inhabitants were called Laurentes-Laurentini-Laurentii et Laurenti. 64. Densæ apes: a thick swarm of bees. 66. Per mutua: taken adverbially. Their feet being mutually joined or linked together. 68. Cernimus: we see a foreigner approach, and an army seek those parts, which the bees sought, from the same parts from which they came. 70. Dominarier: by paragoge, for dominari: to rule-bear sway. |