Inclusêre cavi, et nigrâ nemus abiete cingunt. 600. Fama est veteres Sylvano fama est veteres sacrâsse Pelasgos, Pelasgos, qui primi ali- Arvorum pecorisque Deo, lucumque diemque, quando habuere Latinos Qui primi fines aliquando habuere Latinos. fines sacrâsse lucumque, diemque Sylvano Haud procul hinc Tarcho et Tyrrheni tuta tenebant 600 605 Huc pater Æneas et bello lecta juventus At Venus, æthereos inter Dea candida nimbos, Munera ne mox, aut Laurentes, nate, superbos, Dixit et amplexus nati Cytherea petivit : : Arma sub adversâ posuit radiantia quercu. ardescit 624. Tum versat ocreas leves ex electro. 626. Ignipotens, haud ignarus vatum, insciusque venturi ævi fecerat illic NOTES. 599. Cavi: in the sense of curvi: wind- and his arms. ing hills. 600. Pelasgos. These were a colony from Emonia, the ancient name of Thessaly. They expelled the Etrusci, and settled in their country. They, in turn, were expelled by the Tyrrheni, a colony from Lydia, or Mæonia in the lesser Asia. 605. Tendebat: pitched their tents in the open fields. Legio: troops in general. 607. Curant: rest-refresh. Ruæus says, reficiunt. 608. Nimbos: in the sense of nubes. 610. Flumine: near the cool river-on the banks of the cold stream. Secretum: retired-remote. 612. Perfecta: made-finished. 613. Mox ne dubites: clad in this armor, my son, you may not hesitate to challenge either the proud, &c. The epithet superbos, refers to the outrage, which they had offered to Eneas and his followers, mentioned 118. supra. 618. Expleri: to be satisfied in looking upon them. 619. Versat interque: he turns and shifts his armor every way, the less in his hands, the larger in his arms-between his hands 610 615 620 625 Miratur: he wonders at them. Ruæus says, stupet. 620. Galeam: the helmet vomiting out flames. He means only that the crest or plume was of a fiery red color, and seemed to rise out of his helmet like flames. 621. Fatiferum: mortal-causing death. 622. Cœrula nubes: an azure cloud; such an one as receives the tincture, and reflects the various colors of the rainbow. 624. I.cnes: smooth-polished. Recocto: doubly purified. Rumus says, repurgato. 625. Non enarrabile textum: the inex pressible texture of the shield. 626. Italas res: the Italian history. 627. Haud ignarus, &c. We now come to the conclusion of the book; and, certainly, there never was a book more nobly finished. Having given us the particulars of the arms and armor, the poet proceeds to the description of the sculptures upon the shield. And by way of prophecy, he gives us a very important piece of history in these engravings, and by that means, makes them one of the most important parts of the poem. It is imitated from Homer; but greatly im(proved. Vatum: in the sense of vaticiniorum vel prædictionum. Valpy says, 1 "Of Fecerat Ignipotens : illic genus omne futuræ Fecerat et viridi fœtam Mavortis in antro : 630 636 Haud procul inde cita Metium in diversa quadrigæ Distulerant; at tu dictis, Albane, maneres! Raptabatque viri mendacis viscera Tullus Per sylvam; et sparsi rorabant sanguine vepres. Nec non Tarquinium ejectum Porsenna jubebat Accipere, ingentique urbem obsidione premebat. sciac NOTES. what had been foretold," by preceding prophets. Davidson says of Vulcan: "A prophet not unskilful," taking ignarus vatum in the sense of ignarus vates vel propheta. 628. Ignipotens: a name of Vulcan; of ignis and potens. Fecerat: in the sense of expresserat. 630. Fatam: not pregnant, but in the sense of enixam: having just brought forth her young. This description is thought to have been taken from a statue of Romulus and Remus sucking the wolf, that was in the capitol in Virgil's time. See Æn. i. 274. 635. Sabinas raptas. After Romulus had founded his city, he became sensible that a body of men could not long be kept together, without some common bond; nor could his state continue long without women. He therefore proposed alliances with his neighbors, for the purpose of obtaining wives for his subjects; but they refused any connexion with a band of ruffians. He then conceived the plan of taking them by violence. For this purpose he instituted sports, which were then called Consuales, afterward Circenses. In these he invited his neighbors, especially the Sabines, from the city Cures, and upon a signal given, the Romans were to rush upon the women, and convey them to their own homes. This they did, in violation of good faith, and every principle of justice. War immediately ensued between the two states, which however was settled between Tatius king of the Sabines, and Romulus, upon these conditions: the Sabines should migrate to Rome; the government should be administered jointly by the two kings; that Rome should retain its name; but that the citizens should 640 645 645. Et vepres sparsi sanguine rorabant. Nec non Porsenna jubebat Romanos accipere be called Curites, or Quirites, from Cures. Sinè more: without regard to law or right. Servius says, absque exemplo, whom Ruæus follows: without precedent, or example. Davidson thinks it should be taken in the sense of malo more: wickedly-atrociously. For, says he Romulus, solatus earum mæstitiam, docuit, non injuriâ sed connubii causâ, ipsas raptas esse; et demonstravit morem istum et Græcum et antiquum esse. Ex Dionysio. 636. Concessu caveæ: in the crowded circus -in the asseinbly of the circus: when the great Circensian games were celebrated. For caveæ, see Geor. ii. 381. 638. Romulidis: dat. of Romulida, the Romans, so called from Romulus. Curibus severis. Cures, was a city of the Sabines: by meton. put for the inhabitants. These are again put by synec. for the Sabines in general. They were a people remarkable for their integrity and rigid virtue. Hence the epithet severis. 640. Tenentes pateras: holding goblets ready to offer libations on the altar. 642. Metium distulerant. The poet, sensible that the story of Metius might shock the humanity of his reader, is careful to remind him of the cause, for which the Roman king was so terribly severe, both in his apostrophe to the traitor, and in giving him the epithet of mendax, false or treacherous. See nom. prop. under Metius. 645. Rorabant: in the sense of distillabant. 646. Porsenna. He was king of the Etrusci, and took part with Tarquin after his expulsion, and endeavored to restore him to his throne. And he came near effecting it. He took possession of Janiculun, on the western bank of the Tiber 652. In summo clypeo Manlius, custos Æneadæ in ferrum pro libertate ruebant. In summo custos Tarpeiæ Manlius arcis 659. Erat ollis aurea corpora 663. Hic extuderat exsultantes Salios over which a bridge was built to connect it with the main city. This bridge was defended on the western end by Cocles, against the Etruscan army, as they attempted to pass it, until the Romans on the eastern shore broke it down. After which he cast himself into the river, and swam to his friends. By this means the city was saved. See nom. prop. under Tarquinius. 648. Eneada: the Romans, so called from Eneas. 649. Illum: Porsenna. 651. Clalia. One of the conditions of peace exacted by Porsenna of the Romans, was the surrender of their virgins to him as hostages. Among these hostages was Clolia. Under the pretence of bathing herself, she eluded her guards, and with some others mounted their horses, and swam over the Tiber. Porsenna demanded her, and she was restored. But he set her at liberty with such other of the hostages, as she thought proper to name. The Romans presented her with an equestrian statue. 652. Manlius. In the year of Rome 364, the Gauls, under Brennus, routed the Roman army at the river Allium, and proceeded to Rome and took it. Marcus Manlius collected a body of men, threw himself into the capitol, and defended it. By this means the city was saved. See 347. supra. 654. Regia horrebat: the palace appeared rough, and newly repaired with Romulian straw. This thatched palace of Romulus, which was built on mount Capitolinus, was repaired from time to time, as it fell to decay. Virgil here represents it as standing in the time of Manlius, 327 years after the death of Romulus. It was held in great veneration, as a monument of their ancient frugality. 655. Argenteus anser. It is said that at 650 655 660 the time the Gauls held possession of Rome, an attempt was made to seize upon the capitol in the dead of the night. The only access was by a narrow passage. The Gauls had succeeded in eluding the guards; and an alarm was given by the noise of a flock of geese, which was near this private passage and by that means the capitol was saved. The goose afterward was held in high estimation. To this circumstance the poet here alludes. 656. Canebat: in the sense of monebat, vel indicabat. 658. Dono: by the favor-assistance. 659. Aurea casuries, &c. Here we have a description of the Gauls, and an account of their armor. They are said by Livy and others to have had long yellow hair, and a remarkable white neck. Their hair, therefore, the poet calls aurea, golden, and their necks lactea, milk-white. 660. Sagulis. The sagulum was a cloak or upper garment worn by the ancient Gauls. It was streaked or striped with different colors. Hence the epithet virgatis. 661. Auro: in the sense of aureis monilibus. 662. Gæsa. The gasum was a long, but a light and slender spear, so that two of them could easily be carried in one's hand. They are here called Alpina, because pecu liar to the Gauls, who inhabited about the Alps. 663. Salios. See 285. supra. Lupercos. See 343. supra. 664. Lanigeros apices: woollen caps. Ancilia. The ancile was a kind of oval shield, worn only by the priests of Mars on certain days. One of them is said to have fallen from heaven in the reign of Numa; alu to have portended that the city of Rome Extuderat castæ ducebant sacra per urbem Et scelerum pœnas: et te, Catilina, minaci Cernere erat totumque instructo Marte videres NOTES. should become most powerful, and be rendered invinsible, so long as that remained in it. 665. Extuderat: had represented. Ruæus gays, sculpserat. 666. Pilentis, &c. In the war with the Veientes, Camillus vowed an offering of gold to Apollo of Delphi; and not having it in his power to perform it, the women of distinction brought together their jewels, and presented them to him. Whereupon they received the honor of being carried at the public shows, and other exhibitions, in light coaches (pilentis mollibus) at the public expense. 668. Catilina. L. Sergius Catiline was of patrician rank, but of a very abandoned character. He twice sought the consulate, and was as often disappointed; which so enraged him, that he entered into a conspiracy with some others to murder the consuls and burn the city. The whole plot was discovered by the vigilance of Cicero, and Catiline expelled from Rome. He afterward perished on the field of battle, about the middle of December, 58 years before the Christian era. His associates also perished, many of them miserably, by the hand of the public executioner. Sallust has given a full account of this most daring conspiracy, written in purely classic style. 670. Catonem. Some understand Cato the Censor; but others, with more reason, perhaps, Cato Uticensis. La Cerda hicre censures Virgil very much in making Cato give laws in hell to gratify Augustus. But, it is to be observed, that Cato does not sustain that character in the place of the condemned; but in the abodes of the blessed. Beside, it could not be a dishonor to Cato to be ranked with Minos and Rhadamanthus, those distinguished legislators. A question may here arise: what is the use of giving laws to those in Elysium, who are established in perfection and virtue? Perhaps by jura, we are to understand their rights or just rewards. This Cato was distinguished for his integrity and rigid virtue. 671. Inter hæc, &c. The poet now proAugustus obtained over Antony and Cleoceeds to the ever memorable victory which Actium, patra on the shores of Epirus, near in the year of Rome 723. Upon this, the poet exerts all the energy of his mind, with a view to immortalize the name of his prince. The previous description of the sea is a painting which nothing can surpass. Imago ibat: the surface of the wide-swelling sea was golden. Ibat: in the sense of erat vel apparebat. 672. Cærula. Maria is understood. This expresses the waters in general, without any particular reference to color in this place. Cano fluctu: with white silvered waves. 673. Clari: shining in silver. 674. Estum: in the sense of fluctus vel mare. 675. Actia bella: the Actic fight. Actia: an adj. from Actium, a promontory of Epirus, where Augustus gained a complete victory over Antony and Cleopatra, in the year of Rome 723. This victory placed Augustus securely on the imperial throne. Eratas: brazen beaked. 676. Instructo marte: with the marshalled fight. Leucaten. See En. iii. 274. 678. Hinc Augustus, &c. Here the poet arranges the respective armies. On the one side, Augustus, with his Italian forces, the fathers of his country, and its guardian gods. On the other side, Antony, with his foreign forces, and the gods of Egypt. Every line is beyond expression admirable. 680. Cui læta tempora: whose joyous temples, &c. Cui: in the sense of cujus. Geminas flammas. Some refer this to his Læta vomunt, patriumque aperitur vertice sidus. 682. In alia parte erat Parte aliâ, ventis et Dîs Agrippa secundis, Agrippa 683. Cui tempora fulgent, rostrata navali coronå Arduus, agmen agens: cui, belli insigne superbum, 685. Hinc victor An- Victor, ab Aurora populis et litore rubro tonius, barbaricâ ope, Egyptum, viresque Orientis, et ultima secum variisque armis, vehit Bactra vehit: sequiturque, nefas! Ægyptia conjux. Egyptum, viresque Orientis, et ultima Bactra Unà omnes ruere, ac totum spumare reductis secum, usque ab populis Convulsum remis rostrisque tridentibus æquor. 689. Omnes videntur Alta petunt: pelago credas innare revulsas ruere unà, ac totum Cycladas, aut montes concurrere montibus altos : Tantâ mole viri turritis puppibus instant. Stuppea flamma manu, telisque volatile ferrum æquor NOTES. helmet, the cone or tuft of which had red fiery plumes. Others, to his diadem, which was set with sparkling gems. 681. Patrium sidus. This alludes to the manner in which he used to be represented in the Roman sculpture, having over his head the star into which his adopted father Julius Cæsar was supposed to have been changed. Vomunt flammas. The poet here imitates Homer in his description of the helmet of Diomede. 682. Agrippa: a noble Roman, and highly honored by his prince. To his skill and conduct, the victory at Actium was chiefly owing. He was the son-in-law of Augustus, and also his adopted son. He died in the year of the city 742. Secundis: in the sense of propitiis. crown. 684. Rostrata: adorned with the naval This crown was bestowed on such as signalized themselves in an engagement at sea. It was set around with figures like the beaks of ships. 685. Antonius. Marcus Antonius was the companion of Julius Cæsar in all his expeditions, and was magister equitum during his dictatorship. After the death of Casar, he was triumvir with Octavius (afterward Augustus) and Lepidus. He overthrew the army of Brutus and Cassius, and with them the hopes of the republicans, on the plains of Philippi. He performed many noble deeds for his country, and triumphed over the Parthians in the year of Rome 716. He put away his wife for the sake of Octavia, the sister of Augustus. He put her away in turn, and married Cleopatra, queen of Egypt; whereupon he was declared an enemy by the Senate. War vas immediately declared against him. The two armies, or rather fleets, engaged at Actium, a promontory of Epirus. Antony was vanquished, and fled to Alexandria in Egypt, which was soon besieged; and was taken the following year. He killed himself, to prevent falling into the hands of his enemies. 681 685 690 The same was the end of Cleopatra, who died by the bite of asps, which she kept for that purpose. The army of Antony was made up chiefly of Asiatics. Hence populis Aurora: from the nations of the morning—of the east. Variis armis: with various arms-with arms of various kingdoms and nations. 686. Rubro litore: from the coast of the Red sea. This sea separates Egypt from Arabia. Victor. This is mentioned with reference to his victory and triumph over the Parthians. It is added to do honor to Augustus in conquering so formidable enemy. an 688. Bactra: neu. plu.: a principal city of Bactriana, a country lying to the southeast of the Caspian sea, put, by synec. for the whole country. The Romans, like the Greeks before them, called all other nations barbarians. So here the forces of Antony are called, barbarica opes. Ultima: the farthest, or most remote part of the empire. Egyptia conjux: Cleopatra. 690. Reduclis remis: with laboring oars. Reductis, shows the men laboring at the oar, and with all their might pulling home every stroke. Tridentibus rostris: with trident beaks. See En. v. 143. 692. Cycladas. The Cyclades were a cluster of islands in the Ægean sea. Delos, one of them, was the birth-place of Apollo and Diana. The poet likens the ships, on account of their magnitude, to these islands floating on the sea, and to mountains engaging with one another. The comparison is of the noblest kind. 693. Turritis puppibus. These were ships that had turrets or towers erected on their decks; from which the soldiers threw all manner of weapons, as if they had been on dry land; and so engaged with the greatest fury imaginable. Of so great size or bulk: tantâ mole. 694. Stuppea flamma. These were bundles of tow or hemp set on fire, and cast on |