home. So in the kindred passage in Theocritus, iv, 12, the heifers are mourning; everything goes wrong in the absence of Aegon.-39. Aberat has its last syllable lengthened by the ictus.- -41, 42. Two distinct objects are to be secured by his journey to Rome: one, his emancipation, the other, the preservation of his farm; the first he will purchase from his master, the other he must get by petitioning the ruling powers (divos). See introductory note.- -43. Iuvenem. Octavian was at this time in his twentysecond year. -44. Bis senos. Twelve days yearly, i. e., one day in every month, offerings were made to the Lares or household gods, either on the Kalends, Nones, or Ides.- 47. Tua, to be taken in the predicate; your own. Comp. meus, E. III, 23, and mea, ix, 4.- -48. Lapis nudus, the naked stone; bare stones and gravel. Omnia is more naturally joined with pascua, though some prefer to understand it in a general sense for the whole farm or all the lands, confining pascua to the portions strictly so called. The farm, however, may be mainly for pasturage, and in general either rocky or swampy, and thus be spoken of in a loose way as pastures or pasture land, all covered with gravel-beds, bogs, and fens.- -50, 51. Melibocus, for his part, must take his goats to strange and unwholesome pastures.- -50. Gravis fetas, the ewes heavy with young.-53, Sacros. All fountains and sources of streams are sacred to some presiding divinity.-54. Quae, etc., literally: "The hedge, as always (in the season of flowers) fed upon as to the flower of the willow by the Hyblaean bees, will often persuade (you) with its gentle murmur to fall into slumber." After quae we may supply suadet, and regard the clause as equivalent to ut or quemadmodum semper suadet. Hinc is explained by vicino ab limite, as hinc in v. 57 by alta sub rupe. Comp. Ae. II, 18, and note. "On the one side from the neighboring border on the other side underneath the high rock," etc.- -55. Hyblaeis is used as a general attributive for bees. See on Ae. V, 312.- -56. Susurro appears to include both the hum of the bees and the breathing of the wind.

58. Cura. Comp. E. X, 22. Thy passion, delight.- -60-64. A favorite form of asseveration, declaring a belief or promise to be as sure as the fixed order of nature. Comp. E. V, 76; Ae. I, 607; Hor. Epod., XVI, 25, sqq.- -61. Nudos. Water is the natural covering or protection of fishes; hence, out of the water they are naked. -62. Pererratis, etc., both races having wandered across their boundaries; the boundaries or lands of each having been left behind. Exsul is used by the poets of any one who is a wanderer from home whether voluntarily or by banishment.--63. Germania, for Germanus or Germani. The region of the Arar or modern Saone was so near to Germany, and so often invaded by the Germans, that it could be called German, at least, by poetic license.- 65. Nos, not only Meliboeus, but the unhappy outcasts of the Mantuan district in general, as contrasted with the fortunate Tityrus. Afros. For the case, see on Italiam, Ae. I, 2. -67. Orbe designates particularly the Roman world. From this the Britons are separated. In prose we should read ab orbe. See the foregoing note. -68. En, introducing the question, expresses desire or longing, and may be translated by "ah.". -69. Congestum, equivalent to erstructum.. Post is an emphatic repetition: hereafter, indeed?—Aliquot aristas, some few ears of grain, where now there are teeming crops. Shall I behold with wonder my once fruitful fields (mea regna) neglected and desolate under the hands of these indolent barbarians?" Heyne's interpretation of aristas accords with the one here given. - -72. Barbarus. Caesar had introduced Gauls into the legions. The word implies that there were Gallic or other barbarians among the discharged veterans now in possession of the Mantuan lands. Discordia refers to the civil wars from B. c. 49 to 41. 74. Said with bitter irony. "Now, when others are sure to gather the fruit, graft (insere) your pears, plant your vines." For the operations re

-70.

ferred to, see Ge. II, 73, 260, sqq.- -77. Pendere, etc. Comp. Ge. III, 314–15. -80. Poteras, you might, not potes, because Meliboeus had begun to move on with his goats. It may, however, be a merely conventional form. Comp. Horace, A. P. 328. H. 476, 4. -82. Castaneae molles. Chestnuts roasted or boiled are still much used by the Italians for food.-82. Pressi copia lactis, a circumlocution for caseus.- -83. Fumant. The smoke rising from the roofs (they were without chimneys) indicates the preparation of the evening meal.

ECLOGUE II.

THE shepherd, Corydon, sings his love of the youthful Alexis, who is also loved by his own master, Iollas.

The ideas are suggested mostly by the third and cleventh Idyls of Theocritus. In Theocritus, however, the goatherd of the third Idyl is in love not with a boy, but with Amaryllis, a shepherdess, and the Cyclops of the eleventh is enamored of the nymph Galatea.

2. Quid speraret. The interrogative form shows that habebat is equivalent to in animo habebat, he knew not what to hope for. M. 363, obs. 2. Quod speraret would mean that he had nothing to hope for.- -3. Tantum, closely connected with the foregoing thought. Because of his suspense, he had no other resource than to frequent the woods and sing his love. Inter, into the midst of Cacumina. I have followed the texts of Jahn, Ribbeck, and Forbiger in removing the commas found in others after densas and cacumina, making the latter a Greek accusative. This seems to me less offensive than the apposition of cacumina with fagos. Comp. E. IX, 9. -8. Captant, are hastening to enjoy. It is even now the noontide.- 10. Thestylis, a name from Theocritus, II. She is here a house-slave, and prepares the meridian meal of garlic, wild thyme, and other herbs, with cheese, oil, vinegar, etc.; the usual fare of husbandmen. Such a dish was called moretum, a bite."

-12. Mecum in sense is joined with cicadis, though in construction with resonat. "The tree-crickets with me fill the groves with their shrill piping." Literally: "the groves with me resound with the shrill cicadae." Vestigia. Corydon seeks out every spot where Alexis has been with his master, Iollas.- 14. Fuit satius. H. 476, 5; M. 348, obs. 1.- 16. Niger, dark or brown; as fuscus in E. X, 38. Esses is put by attraction in the tense and mood of esset understood with ille, instead of sis. -20. Pecoris, lactis. See on agri, Ae. I, 343.- -21. Mille agnae, either belonging to Corydon or under his charge; according as we understand him to be the slave of Iollas or a freeman. -23. Quae, such songs as. With Solitus supply est. 26. Placidum is in the praedicate: "Stood calm"; had been calmed by the winds (ventis). Comp. Ae. III, 69, and V, 763. The winds are often spoken of by the poets as calming the waters, of course, in a negative way, by leaving them undisturbed. Comp. Horace, O. I, 3, 16. So also Soph. Αi. 674 : δεινῶν τ' ἄημα πνευμάτων ἐκοίμισε στένοντα πόντον ; 'the blast of the furious winds is wont (by ceasing to blow) to put to sleep the roaring sea. -28. O tantum, equivalent to O si, O, if only, if you would but. Sordida, mean or humble; that is, in the eyes of Alexis.- -30. Hibisco, dative for the prose construction ad or in with the accusative.- -32. Calamos cera coniungere, to unite or fasten together the reeds with wax, so as to form the panpipe or syrinx. See dictionary, "fistula.". -34. Trivisse. The under lip is rubbed while passing along the upper ends of the reeds. -35. Amyn. tas, some shepherd who has competed with Corydon in playing, and been judged inferior by Damoetas, perhaps, their teacher.- -36. Cicutis, here in the same sense as calamis,- -37. Dono mihi. See on Ae. I, 22. -38. Secundum, as the second owner; the inheritor of the instrument from Damootas. Others understand the next" to Damoetas in musical skill,-40,

Nec. The negative goes with tuta: and in an unsafe valley; perhaps dangerous on account both of precipices and of wild beasts. The young goats are so much the more precious on account of the danger incurred in finding them.- 41. Etiam nunc, not even so early as now, but even to the present time, even still. The spots disappear after the first six months.- 42. Bina die abera, for bis die ubera. The young wild goats have been adopted by a ewe mother whose udders they drain twice a day. 43. Orat. See on Ae. I, 581. 45-55. The choicest gifts of his garden and fields, baskets of lilies, wreaths of flowers, fruits, berries, and nuts, the shepherd offers in words made poetic by his passion. The nymphs of the springs which water the grounds are said to bring flowers and fruits, because their fountains cause them to grow and thrive. 47. Pallentis, here for pale yellow; not the purple violet, but the delicate-tinted yellow violet; in Greek, devкóïov.

-50. Pingit, paints; that is, by contrasting flowers with a background of casia leaves.- -51. Mala, here mala Cydonia, quinces, which are pleasant to the smell.- 53. Pomo, as a general term for fruit, here refers to pruna. This fruit, too, shall have honor.- -54. Proxima, companion. The reason for putting the laurel and myrtle together is given in the following verse: quoniam sic positae, etc.-55. For the displacement of quoniam, see on Ae. 1, 1.- -56. He confesses his folly to himself. -57. For the mood, see on Ae. I, 58. Tollas. See introductory note.- -58, 59. Alas, what madness have I brought upon myself! In my distraction I have forgotten all things else! I have let the hot south wind blast my flowers, and the wild boars break in upon my pure springs! Some with Voss understand this to be a figure, perhaps a proverb, signifying the entire breaking up of one's peace and happiness.-60-62. "It is folly for you, O Alexis, to think that the country is only for clowns. Let Pallas dwell in the cities which she has taught men to build, and which she fosters; but other deities, and the beautiful Paris, too, not less fair than you, have dwelt in the woods and glades." Minerva as the goddess of industrial arts is the founder and patron of cities, Πολιάς, πολιοῦχος. -66-68. "The sun is declining, the labors of the day are ended; not so my love.". -67. Aratra-iuvenci, evidently the same idea as in Horace, Epode II, 63: vomerem inversum boves collo trahentis; inversum answering to suspensa and collo tranhentis to iugo referunt. Lugo, therefore, should not be joined with suspensa. The plowman throws the plow over on one side, thus keeping the share from penetrating the glebe, while it is trailed along the surface by the oxen. The plow and share in this way are in some sense suspended and inverted. The term trahentis, used by Horace, is incompatible with the idea of "not touching the ground," as Spohn interprets Vergil's suspensa, nor is it easy to understand how the plow could be hung from the yoke so as to be carried by an team" without touching the ground. Heyne in this part of the interpretation seems to me more correct: inverso vomere ut aratra protracta solum verrant. For Vergil's account of the ancient plow, see Ge. I, 169, sqq.70. Semiputata. His distraction has led him to the ruinous neglect of his husbandry, of which the dressing of the vines is an important part. The vine in the north of Italy is still trained to the elm.- -71. After aliquid supply eorum, antecedent of quorum. Indiget usus, necessity or utility requires; things which are of service in the operations of the household and farm.

ECLOGUE III.

OX

MENALCAS is tending his father's flock, Damoctas that of Aegon, a neighbor who is in love with Neaera, and rival of the young Menalcas. While the flocks are feeding near together, Menalcas falls in with Damoetas, and immediately gives vent to his jealous dislike of Aegon by abusing the

hired shepherd. The bantering conversation which follows leads to a match in Amoebaean song (see note on v. 58), of which Palaemon is made the arbiter.

The Eclogue is a close imitation of Theocritus, particularly of the fourth and fifth Idyls.

1. Cuium, a possessive adjective for the genitive of the substantive cuins. It had fallen out of use after the time of Terence. "Whose flock is that?" Of course it is not yours, for I know that you are a mere hireling and not the owner of any. -2. Aegon. See introductory note. -3. Pecus. 0 in exclamations of regret is followed either by the accusative or nominative. H. 381, 3, n. 3; M. 236, and obs. 1. Poor sheep, O flock, always unlucky! whether under the unfaithful Damoetas or under Aegon distracted by his love for Neaera.- -5. Alienus, hireling. -7. Viris, with emphasis, in contrast with the unmanly character of Menalcas, who is charged by the insinuation of Damoetas with lending himself to the vile passions of others.

-8. Te, object of corrupit understood.- -9. Sacello, some grot sacred to the Nymphs, who are represented as laughing at the animal passions of the rustics.- -10, 11. "It was then they laughed, I suppose, when they saw," etc. Menalcas turns upon him with the charge of a wanton outrage on the vineyard of their neighbor Micon.- -10. Me, substituted with ironical emphasis for te. "Everybody knows it was you who did it." Arbustum, here for the plantation of elms to which the vines were trained. Novellas, young, and therefore too tender to bear the knife even in pruning. See Ge. II, 365. But Damoetas had cut them maliciously.- -12-15. Or (they laughed, I suppose) here by the old beeches, etc. Menalcas is reproached with breaking in petty spite the bow and arrow given as a prize to the young shepherd Daphnis.-15. Aliqua, in some way, no matter how.- -16. How can masters or proprietors protect themselves when rogues do such things, except by taking the law into their own hands.- 18. Multum-Lysisca, though Lysisca barked aloud.- -19. Quo, etc., equivalent to "stop thief!". -20. Tityre, Damon's herdsman. Coge pecus, get your flock together; look out for thieves. The context seems to require that se proripit should mean darting away with the goat to his hiding-place, as Ruaeus understands it, rather than rushing out from it, as translated by some others.---21, An -redderet, was he not then bound to deliver it to me, etc. See on Ae. I, 565. -25. Illum, supply vicisti. Fistula, etc. You never had a syrinx; never were taught (indoctus) how to play. -28. The taunt provokes Damoetas at once to propose a trial of skill, and he offers to stake a fine heifer.

-32. Ausim. H. 486, 1, n. 1; M. 350, b.- -36. Ponam, in the same sense as deponere, v. 32.- -38-43. The pair of beech-wood cups had on the two fields or principal surfaces, separated by the handles, the figures of two astronomers known to husbandmen as those to whom they were indebted for their knowledge of the rising and setting of the stars and the vicissitudes of the seasons and the weather indicated by them. One was Conon of Samos (B. c. 260-220), and the other, probably, Eudoxus of Cnidos (B. C. 360). The "Phaenomena of the latter was highly esteemed. The two fields were surrounded by branches of grape and ivy intertwined, and the leaves of the ivy, pale-green (pallens as in E. V, 16), with its clusters of dark berries hanging here and there (diffusos), made a pleasing contrast with the bright, fresh green of the grape leaves. Or, according to another interpretation, an ivy vine, mingling its tender green foliage with its seattered clusters of berries, forms the wreath around the two fields. carved work, therefore, on the cups, was colored, at least, to some extent. This accords with the well-known taste of the Greeks.- -38. Quibus, dative after superaddita. Torno facili, with the skillful graver; with the graving tool plied by a facile hand. Superaddita is equivalent to caelatum in v. 37,

The

meaning carved on the surface, put on, or added, as it were, to the plain rounded surface left by the lathe after the first turning of the beechen block.

-39. Hedera is best explained by Conington as an ablative of material or description, and equivalent to a genitive after corymbos, like veneno in Ae. VII, 354. Many, however, take it as an ablative of manner, and vitis, in the foregoing line, as a general word for " vine," and, here, the ivy vine. Thus: the vine clothes its (own) scattered clusters with (its) pale foliage. Vestit, covers or entwines. 40. Signa, here, as often, for carved portrait figures. Supply sunt. Quis fuit. The shepherd can not recall the name, but describes the person by his work.-41. Radio, the radius, rod, or staff, with which the astronomer or geometrician traced his diagrams on a board covered with sand. Orbem. A diagram of the heavens, which the astronomer mapped out (descripsit) for the instruction of men (gentibus), thus indicating the seasons (tempora) corresponding to the signs of the zodiac. Comp. Ae. VI, 849-50.- 42. Quae haberet. The question stands as a second object or accusative after descripsit. Comp. Ae. V, 647, sqq. -44-47. Damoetas shows that the beech-wood cups can be no tempting prize for him, since he has a pair just as good by the same artist, which, he mockingly says, have never been touched by his lips. The theme of the raised work on his cups Orpheus enchanting the trees with his music.48. Si ad vitulam spectas, if you put a proper estimate upon, if you consider the value of the heifer.- 49. Menalcas understands that Damoetas, by showing that to him the cups are of no value, and not to be compared with his heifer, wishes to get rid of the contest. Quocumque, whithersoever you lead, whatsoever terms you propose; implying that he also stakes a heifer at last, in spite of the danger of his father's displeasure.— 50. Audiat, etc., only let him hear these (proposed verses of ours)-even he who is coming (yonder)-lo, (now I know him) Palaemon. -52. Si quid habes, supply quod canas. -54. Sensibus, ablative of location.. -56-57. The springtime is quickening all nature with a new life.- -58. Incipe, etc. The contest which Palaemon as arbiter directs them now to begin, is a trial of skill in extemporizing verses alternately (alternis versibus), and therefore called carmen amoebaeum, or responsive song. Of these singing-matches there were two kinds. The first consisted of a series of stanzas, each of two or four lines, so related that in every response the second singer must improvise a thought either kindred to or contrasted with that expressed by the first. But there is no necessary connection between the successive ideas or themes employed by the leading singer. Of this kind is the singingmatch here introduced, and also that in Eclogue VII, commencing at v. 21. In the second species each of the improvisators composes one song either continuous or varied at intervals by the introduction of a refrain. The two songs in this case may have either kindred or independent themes, but they must correspond in the number of lines. Of these two last varieties we have examples in Eclogue V, 20-44, 56-80, and in Eclogue VIII, 17-62, 65-110.60. Ab Iove. The poet as well as the priest often begins with prayer or praise to Jupiter. 'Ex Aids ȧрxúμeσla is a form both of Theocritus and Aratus. Musae by our punctuation is made a vocative; which seems preferable here to the construction given to it by some as a genitive limiting principium.61. Colit terras, he cherishes or cultivates the lands, rendering them productive by regulating the seasons and the weather. Comp. Horace, O. 1, 12, 15. Curae. He regards my songs, for they tell of the bounties which he causes the earth to yield.- 63. Apollo loved Daphnis and Hyacinthus, and, therefore, the laurel and the hyacinth into which they were respectively transformed were both sacred to him.64-67. Galatea is the love (Venus) of Damoetas, while the flame (ignis) of Menalcas is the boy Amyntas. Galatea makes a pretense of shyness,