dicere Spem gregis, ah! silice in nudâ connixa reliquit. Sæpe malum hoc nobis, si mens non læva fuisset, 17. Memini quercus De cœlo tactas memini prædicere quercus : tactas de cœlo sæpe præ- Sæpe sinistra cavâ prædixit ab ilice cornix. Sed tamen, ille Deus qui sit, da, Tityre, nobis. 20. Ego stultus puta- TIT. Urbem, quam dicunt Romam, Melibœe, putavi vi urbem, quam dicunt Stultus ego huic nostræ similem, quò sæpe solemus Pastores ovium teneros depellere fœtus. Romam esse similem huic nostræ Mantuæ, Sic canibus catulus similes, sic matribus hædos 25. Hæc Roma extulit Verùm hæc tantùm alias inter caput extulit urbes, MEL. Et quæ tanta fuit Romam tibi causa videndi ? TIT. Libertas: quæ sera, tamen respexit inertem ; Candidior postquam tondenti barba cadebat: Respexit tamen, et longo pòst tempore venit, Postquam nos Am) duet, Galatea reliquit. Namque (fatebor enim) dum me Galatea tenebat, NOTES. 16. Hoc malum nobis. There seem to be required here, to make the sense complete, the words: and I might have understood it; si mens, &c. If my mind had not been foolish. 18. Sinistra cornix: the ill-boding crow. The Romans were very superstitious. They considered every thing as ominous. The flight of some kinds of birds, the croaking of others, the darting of a meteor, a peal of thunder, were signs of good or bad luck. Those that appeared on their left hand, for the most part, they considered unlucky. Hence sinister and lævus caine to signify unlucky, ill-boding, &c. And those that appeared on their right hand, they considered to be lucky. Hence, dexter came to signify fortunate, lucky, &c. The best reason that can be given, why they used sinister and lavus, sometimes in a good, at other times in a bad sense, is, that they occasionally interpreted the omens after the manner of the Greeks, who considered those that appeared in the eastern part of the heavens to be lucky; and turning their faces to the north, as their custom was, they would be seen on the right hand. The Romans, on the contrary, turned their faces to the south in observing the omens; and consequently, their left hand would be toward the east, corresponding to the right hand of the Greeks. Ilice: the holm-oak. 19. Qui sit Deus: who may be that God of yours-of whom you speak? Da nobis: tell me. Nobis: in the sense of mihi. 20. Romam. Rome, a city of Italy, situated on the river Tiber, founded by Romulus 753 years before Christ. Mantua was a city of the Cis-Alpine Gaul, now Lombardy, situated on the eastern bank of the river Mincius, which falls into the Po. 22. Fatus. This word signifies the young of any thing or kind, whether animate or 15 22 25 TM 30 inanimate. We have introduced it into our language without any variation. Teneros fœtus ovium, simply, our lambs. 23. Sic canibus, &c. This passage Servius thus explains: I thought before that Rome resembled Mantua and other cities, as I knew whelps and kids resemble their dams or mothers, differing only in size. In this I was mistaken: I find it to be of a different species from other cities, as the cypress differs from the shrub. 24. Componere: in the sense of comparare. 25. Extulit caput: hath raised its head. A figurative expression,butextremely beautiful. 26 Viburna, plu. of viburnum, a species of shrub. Some take it for a withy, others for the wild-vine. 28. Libertas. Virgil here speaks of himself as being an old man, having a hoary beard, and as having been a slave. Neither of which was the case. But it was not necessary for him to describe himself in all his circumstances. That would have been too plain, and would have taken from the beauty of the pastoral. Inertem: indolent— inactive. Sera: late in life. 29. Candidior barba: my gray, or hoary beard. The comp. is here plainly to be taken in the sense of the pos.Tondenti: to me shaving it. 31. Amaryllis-Galatea. Some think these are to be taken allegorically; the former for Rome, the latter for Mantua. But this is not necessary; nor will it be easy to support the allegory throughout. It is better to take them literally, for the names of the poet's mistresses. Servius thinks nothing in the Bucolics is to be taken allegorically. Dr. Trapp thinks Virgil insinuates that his old mistress Galatea was in favor of Brutus, and his new one Amaryllis in favor of Augustus; and by changing mistresses, he de M * -35 Nec spes libertatis erat, nec cura peculì : TIT. Quid facerem? neque servitio me exire licebat, Hic mihi responsum primus dedit ille petenti : NOTES. licately hints at his changing political sides, and in consequence thereof leaving Mantua, and going to Rome. From the circumstance of Augustus depriving the Mantuans of their lands, we may infer that they were generally in favor of the Republic, and Virgil might have been of that party, till all hope of liberty was lost, and prudence dictated a change of politics. Galatea reliquit, is for reliqui Galateam, by Euphemismus. After he had left Galatea, and transferred his affections to Amaryllis, he obtained liberty and property that is, after he had changed political sides. : 33. Peculi. By apocope for Peculii. This word properly denotes the property of a slave-that which his master suffers him to possess, and call his own. In this sense, it is peculiarly proper, as Virgil here speaks of himself as having been in that humiliating condition. 35. Urbi. The city Mantua. 36. Non unquam, &c. Never did my right hand return home heavy with money. -Mihi: in the sense of mea. 40. Arbusta: the groves themselves, &c. There is a great beauty in the personification of inanimate things; or attributing to them the actions of real life. The Arbusta were large pieces of ground set with elms or other trees, commonly at the distance of about 40 feet, to leave room for corn to grow between them. They were sometimes pruned, and served for stages to the vine. The verb vocabant is to be repeated with each of the 40 45 37. Mirabar, quid tu mosta, Amarylli, vocares Deos ei cui patereris 54. Hinc sepes, quæ dividit tuum agrum ab vicino limite, seinper depasta quoad florem salicti Hyblæis apibus, sæpe suadebit tibi inire somnum levi susurro Saopes 55 apum. nominatives preceding, and fo govern the pronoun te. 42. Præsentes: propiticus or favorable.Alibi: in any other place-any where else. -Cognoscere: to experience, or find. 43. Hic. Here, at Rome.-Juvinem: Octavius, who was then about twenty-two years of age; afterward by a decree of the senate called Augustus.-Cui nostra: for whom our altars smoke,- -in honor of, &c. 46. Pueri. Swains. The word puer properly signifies a boy, in opposition to a girlalso a male slave or waiter. 49. Obducat omnia pascua, &c. Ruæus understands this not of Virgil's own lands, but of the lands of his neighbors. Dr. Trapp very justly rejects this interpretation. The poet is felicitating himself on his good fortune under the character of an old man. And, though his farm was covered over partly with rocks and stones, and partly with a marsh; yet no unusual or improper pasture should injure his (graves fœtas) pregnant ewes; nor any noxious contagion of a neighboring flock should infect or hurt them. -Fata: the female of any kind big with young-a breeder. 52. Inter flumina nota. The Mincius and Po. 55. Sæpes depasta florem, &c. This construction frequently occurs among the poets, and is in imitation of the Greeks; who sometimes placed the noun or pronoun in the acc. case, omitting the governing prep. Fed upon as to, or with respect to, its fluver of willow, &c.-Hyblæis: an adj. from Hy. Sæpe levi somnum suadebit inire susurro. TIT. Antè leves ergo pascentur in æthere cervi, 60 65. At nos expulsi Aut Ararim Parthus bibet, aut Germania Tigrim, hinc, alii nostrum ibi- Quàm nostro illius labatur pectore vultus. mus ad sitientes Afros, MEL, At nos hinc alii sitientes ibimus Afros, Pars Scythiam, et rapidum Cretæ veniemus Oaxem, 68. En unquam mi- Et penitùs toto divisos orbe Britannos. rabor videns patrios En unquam patrios longo pòst tempore fines, pars nostrum veniemus ad Scythiam, NOTES. 57. Ad auras: to the air-aloud, so as to pierce the air. 60. Antè. The ante in this line is merely expletive; the sense is complete without it. 61. Destituent: in the sense of relinquent. 62. Antè, pererratis, &c. Parthus, by Synec. for the Parthians collectively. They were a people descended from the Scythians, and possessed that part of Asia, which is bounded on the west by Media, on the north by the Caspian sea, on the east by Bactriana, and on the south by the deserts of Carmania. In process of time, they became very powerful, and were the most formidable enemies of the Persians: and from their frequent conquests over that people, are sometimes confounded with them. Germania. An extensive country in Europe, put, by meton. for the inhabitants of that country. Ararim. A river of France arising from mount Vogesus (hodie Vauge) and running in a southern direction, falls into the Rhodanus at Lyons, and along with it, into the Mediterranean. It is famous for the bridge built over it by Julius Cæsar. Its present name is the Soane. Tigrim. This is a very rapid river of Asia, rising in Armenia, and taking a southerly direction, passing by Mesopotamia and Assyria, unites with the Euphrates, and with it falls into the Sinus Persicus. The Araris is not in Germany properly so called. But it is well known that the Germans extended their conquests beyond that river, and effected settlements among the Sequani, and other nations of Gaul. Nor is the Tigris in Parthia proper. But the Parthians extended their conquests as far west as the Euphrates. Not far from this river they vanquished Crassus, the Roman general. The meaning of this passage, which hath so much 65 divided the opinions of commentators, appears to be this: that these two nations, the Germans and the Parthians, shall exchange countries with each other (finibus amborum pererratis) sooner than (ante quam) the image of that youth should be effaced from his breast. But the former could never be; therefore, the latter would remain. Pererratis, in the sense of permutatis. 65. Sitientes: thirsting or parched. This epithet is peculiarly proper for the inhabitants of Africa, the greater part of which lies between the tropics. 66. Scythiam. The Scythians were a brave and warlike people, leading a wandering life. They extended their conquests over a very considerable part of Europe and Asia. Hence the term Scythia came to be used indefinitely, to denote any part or the whole of the northern parts of Europe and Asia. Oaxis: a river of Crete; a large island in the Mediterranean. It is celebra ted for having been the birth-place of Jupi ter, and for its having once had a hundred cities. Veniemus, in the sense of ibimus. But 68. En unquam. Alas! shall I ever wonder, beholding, &c. Germanus, Ruæus and Davidson connect aliquot aristas with mea regna. But Dr. Trapp takes post aliquot aristas to mean after some years; and construes mea regna with culmen tuguri. It is true, arista may be taken for years. aliquot aristas does not very well answer to the longo tempore pòst, mentioned just before. And if it did, it would be only a useless repetition. But connect aliquot aristas with mea regna, as in the ordo; any impropriety of this kind is removed; and we have a beautiful representation of Melibaus's possessions; which consisted in a few acres of land, lying adjacent to his cottage, the roof of which just rose above the corn that was planted around it, and might not improperly be said to be concealed among it, or behind it. Tuguri, by apocope, for lugurii. Congestum cespiti : covered over with turf. 4 Pauperis et tugurî congestum cespite culmen, Perduxit miseros! en Consevimus agros! Insere nunc, Melibae, pyros, pone ordine vites: fines longo tempore post, 70 et culmen pauperis tuguri, congestum cesp ite, stans post aliquot aristas, tola mea regna. 75 79 [tem TIT. Hic tamen hanc mecum poteris requiescere noc 76. Ego posthac projectus in viridi antro, non videbo vos procul pendere Et jam summa procul villarum culmina fumant, NOTES. 71. Novalia fallow-ground. had labored, and had improved his lands, to 72. Quò: whither—to what state of mi-be now possessed by a cruel soldier. sery. Perduxit: hath reduced, or brought. 74. Insere nunc, &c. Melibœus says this ironically to himself, being vexed that he and cheese. Molles, may here mean ripe, or 82. Copia pressi luctis: a plenty of curds soft and smooth, in opposition to the hirsuta, or rough. THE subject of this charming pastoral is the passion of the shepherd Corydon for the beautiful youth Alexis. The shepherd complains of the cruelty of the boy in slighting his overtures; and withal advises him not to trust too much to his complexion and beauty. He endeavors to prevail on him to visit the country, where he promises to entertain him with music, nuts, apples, and flowers. But when he finds nothing will avail, he resolves to seek another lover. By Corydon some understand Virgil himself, and by Alexis a beautiful slave, belonging to his friend and patron, Mæcenas. In several parts of this pastoral, the poet is indebted to Theocritus. The scene is laid in Sicily. FORMOSUM pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim, Delicias domini: nec, quid speraret, habebat. NOTES. 1. Ardebat: he greatly loved-he burned for. This word very forcibly marks the degree of his passion. 2. Delicias: the darling-the deligh his master. It is placed in apposit Alexim. It is used only in the pl 3. Inter densas fagos Tantùm inter densas, umbrosa cacumina, fagos habentes umbrosa cacu- Assiduè veniebat: ibi hæc incondita solus nina. Montibus et sylvis studio jactabat inani. O crudelis Alexi, nihil mea carmina curas: Nil nostri miserere: mori me denique coges. Nunc etiam pecudes umbras et frigora captant; Nunc virides etiam occultant spineta lacertos: 10. Thestylis contun- Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus æstu dit allia serpyllumque, Allia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentes. olentes herbas, messori- At mecum raucis, tua dum vestigia lustro, bus fessis rapido æstu. At, dum lustro tua vesSole sub ardenti resonant arbusta cicadis. tigia, arbusta C 23. Canto carmina, quæ Dirceus Amphion solitus est cantare, Nonne fuit satius tristes Amaryllidis iras, NOTES. 4. Ibi solus jactabat, &c. There alone he poured forth these indigested complaints. Jactabat: he threw them away-they were of no avail to him, because they were unheeded by Alexis. 5. Inani studio: with unavailing pleasure, or fondness. He speaks the language of a lover. The beauty and accomplishments of the boy had taken possession of his affections. He dwells upon them with rapture and delight. But all this is vain and unavailing. The boy regards him not. He then breaks forth: O crudelis Alexi, nihil mea carmina curas, &c. 7. Nil. This word is often used in the sense of non, as a simple negative. So also is nihil. 9. Lacertos: lizards. Spinetum: a place where thorns and prickly shrubs grow: here put for the thorns themselves, by meton. 10. Thestylis. The name of a servant; taken from Theocritus. 11. Allia plu. of allium, an herb called garlic. Serpyllum: wild-thyme, or runningbetony; an odoriferous herb. 13. Cicadis. The cicada is an insect of the species of the grasshopper, making a very hoarse and disagreeable noise, particularly in the heat of the day. Satius: in the sense of melius. 15. Menalcan. A Greek acc. of Menalcas. See Ecl. 3. Fastidia: plu. of fastidium: disdain-haughtiness. Pati: to bear-en dure. 18. Ligustra: plu. of Ligustrum: a privet or with-bind, a species of shrub or plant bearing very white flowers; taken for the な 5 10 15 20 flowers themselves, by meton. Vaccinia: the blackberries or bilberries. Some take them for the Hyacinth of Theocritus, whom Virgil here imitates. The meaning of the poet is this: as the privets, though white and fair, (cadunt,) lie neglected because they are useless; and the blackberry is gathered and saved for its usefulness: so, Alexis, shall you, though fair and beautiful to the sight, be neglected for your pride; while Menalcas, though black and swarthy, shall be loved for his good disposition, and his conciliating temper. 21. Siculis. The mountains of Sicily are mentioned, either because they are famed for excellent pastures, or because the scene of the pastoral is laid in that country. 22. Estate: in summer. Frigore: in winter. 23. Siquando: the same as quando. When he called his herds. It was usual with shepherds to walk before their sheep, and call them. 24. Amphion. A celebrated musician, said to have been the son of Jupiter and Antiope, and born on mount Cythera. He was king of Thebes, and is said to have built the walls of that city by the music of his lyre. We are to understand by this, perhaps, his persuading, by his eloquence, a barbarous people to unite, and build a city for their common safety. His mother was wife to Lycus, king of Thebes, and put away by him for the sake of Dirce, whom he married. Dirceus: an adj. either from Dirce his stepmother, or from a fountain of that name in Beotia. Aracyntho: a town and mountain |