Ipsa haeret scopulis, et, quantum vertice ad auras 445 450 460 445. Quantum--tendit, occurs G. 2, 291.-449. Lacrimae, probably of Dido and her sister, though some do wish to understand it of Aeneas. 452. In this verse, Virgil expresses the effect before the cause which produces it. The idea implied is connected with that in the preceding verse, and serves as a transition to the recital of the fatal auguries which finally determine Dido. — 454. Latices. See A. 1, 686. 456. A sure sign of despair. _Visum, “preternatural appearance,' portent.' Effuta (est).—457. Templum, a small chapel dedicated to the manes of Sychaeus.—459. Velleribus niveis, snow-white fillets of wool.' Fronde sertis.—460. Exaudiri, and the other infinitives that follow, may be under the influence of visu, but it seems preferable to regard them as historical infinitives (see Zumpt, 8 599), voces and rerba being the nominatives to exaudiri (visa voces et verba) vocantis viri.462. Virgil alone uses a feminine adjective (sola) with bubo, well known as a bird of ill omen.—468. Ire viam. For the government of accusatives, generally accompanied with an adjective (longam), by intransitive verbs of a cognate meaning, see Zumpt, $ 384.—469, &c. Virgil compares the fury of Dido to that of Pentheus, king of Thebes, whom the Furies (Eumenides, Dirae) persecuted for his opposition to the worship of Bacchus. For Orestes (whose fate was a favourite dramatic Et solem geminum, et duplices se ostendere Thebas: 470 Ergo, ubi concepit Furias, evicta dolore, 'Inveni, germana, viam-gratare sorori- 480 490 Sub pedibus terram, et descendere montibus ornos. Testor, cara, deos et te, germana, tuumque 6 subject), see A. 3, 331.-471. Scenis agitatus, often represented on the stage.? Of these numerous pieces there only remain the Eumenides of Aeschylus and the Orestes of Euripides. The Tragedy of the Romans is totally lost.--473. Orestes entered the temple of Apollo, by the advice of Pylades, in order to escape the Furies; but on attempting to leave it, he was again assailed by them: hence sedent in limine Dirae. 477. Spem serenat, spem serenam ostendit. 481. Aethiopum, properly the southern Africans, but here put for Africans generally. Atlas. See verse 247. — 482. Axem humero torquet, 'causes heaven to rotate on his shoulders ;' that is, supports heaven,' which revolves on his shoulders. Stellis aptum = cui stellae sunt aptae, 'fastened,' 'fixed,' studded,' spangled, adorned, according to the old use of aptus.-483. Massylae. See verse 132. It would seem that this priestess was originally a Massylian, then a keeper of the dragon that guarded the golden fruit of the Hesperides, thus placed by Virgil in the far west, and now in Carthage. 485. Sacros ramos, which bore golden apples, sacred to Venus. 486. This verse explains epulas in 484. Soporiferum is the general epithet of the poppy: the serpent of the Hesperides did not sleep at all.-487. With solvere understand curis amoris.—490. From videbis, we might infer that mugire refers to motion, and not to sound. Yet see such expressions as visae ululare, A. 6, 257.492. Testor me accingier. See Zumpt, $ 605. 6 6 Dulce caput, magicas invitam accingier artes. Haec effata, silet; pallor simul occupat ora. At regina, pyra penetrali in sede sub auras 505 493. Invitam. Virgil here gives Dido a Roman feeling, which was averse to magical incantations. See A. 1, 73. Accingier (for accingi); see A. 1, 210. Here it has a deponent sense, “to prepare to employ, governing the accusative artes.-494. Tecto interiore, in the impluvium.' --498. Juvat, others read jubet. 500. Praetexere funera, to veil her death under'. ..., seek death under pretence of -502. Graviora quam (quae acciderant, or fecerat Dido in) morte Sychaci. Morte quum mortuus esset. 505. Construe ingenti with taedis.--506. The magic rites, under pretext of which Dido was to destroy herself, are here described. Compare Ecl. 8, 64, &c.—510. The Massylian priestess (verse 483) calls loudly on the gods of the lower world-either three hundred, or a hundred thrice called ; in either case, a large indefinite number-Chaos, the primordial deity, type of confusion ; his son Erebus, the hell-god; Hecate, or Diana, worshipped in three aspects-Diana, Luna, Proserpine, or Hecate.—512. Averni. See p. 141, line 10.–513. Aënis. Iron was not admitted in magical operations.---514. Herbae cum lacte; herbae quae habent lac, succum. For herbae venenatae. Even in prose, lac is used for the juice of certain plants.—516. The allusion here is to the hippomanes, which was said to grow on the forehead of foals, and if taken off before the mother could devour it (matri praereptus), to be Ipsa, mola manibusque piis, altaria juxta, Nox erat, et placidum carpebant fessa soporem Sic adeo insistit, secumque ita corde volutat:- 6 а 6 effectual, dissolved, as a love-potion (amor).—517. Mola, sc. in ignem conjecta.--518. Usages in sacrifices. Vinclis," the strings of the sandals,' for uno pede nuda; that is, ' having one foot stripped of its sandal,' as sorceresses are usually represented on sculptures and vases. Recinctu = soluta zona, • uncinctured,' • ungirdled :' cf. Ov. M. 7, 182. 519. Conscia fati, 'conscious of her approaching doom.'—520. Tum, si quod precatur. Construe: tum, precatur (numen) si quod (“whatover ') numen, justum et memor, habet curae amantes non aequo foedere, then she invokes the deity, whatever deity, just and attentive (to human affairs), regards lovers whose affection is unrequited.' 521. Observe the construction-habere amantes curae (dat.). 522. For a similar contrast, see A. 2, 250.-523. Per terras, 'throughout the world.' Quierant = quiescebant, were still.' Quiescere is properly an inceptive, to be putting one's self in a state of repose ; Jience quievisse, “to be still,' * calm, at rest.'—524. Lapsu : 526. Quaeque quaeque specify two different classes of volucres. 527. Sub, 'under the dominion of.-528. This line has been rejected by some. The whole passage from Nox to laborum admits of a variety of connection and punctuation. That given here seems to render the meaning clear.--529. Phoenissa lenibat dolorem.-530. Noctem = quietem noctis et somnum, ' night's soothing influence.'-532. Irarum, &c., repeated verse 564. 533. Sic insistit = talibus cogitationibus indulget. Adeo adds a notion of unexpectedness to the word with which it is joined ; here sic adeo, to such a degree even as this.'--534. Ago is more vivid than agam. Irrisa ab Aenea.--535. Nomadum. See verse 320.-536. Quos, quippe cursu. 6 Iliacas igitur classes, atque ultima Teucrûm Et bene apud memores veteris stat gratia facti? 3. Quis me autem, fac velle, sinet, ratibusque superbis 540 Invisam accipiet? nescis, heu ! perdita, necdum 545 Tantos illa suo rumpebat pectore questus. 555 eos; hence sim.–537. Ultima, “the most humiliating.'—538. Sequar is an instance of zeugma: 'follow' the fleet, obey' the commands, &c. Juvat me eos levatos esse.–539. Bene stat, “is firmly established, is firm and constant.' 540. Fac, “suppose' (Trojanos) velle. — 542. Laomedonteae perjuria. See A. 5, 81l. Here allusion is to the fraud practised on Apollo and Neptune, who had agreed to build the walls of Troy for Laomedon, when the latter refused to give them the stipulated reward. Laomedon acted similarly towards Hercules. Dido insinuates that all the race were equally perjured.—544. Manu stipata. See a similar construction with comitatus, A. 1, 312.-545. Inferar = inradam or insequar. Sidonia. See verse 75, and A. 1, 361.–548. Dido recurs to the arguments of Anna, whom she regards as the cause of her woes.—552. Sychaeo used as an adjective. 553. İlla, contrasted with Aeneas, brings out the two opposing pictures, of the queen's position, and that of Aeneas, on that dreadful night.-556. Vultu eodem. See verse 259, &c.—558. Omnia, the accusative of limitation. Like Mercury-In what respect ?-In all respects. See verse 216, and Ecl. 1, 55. Coloremque has the last syllable elided before et. -561. Deinde, de ita agendo, as the consequence of your |
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