Adolere Penates: whilst banqueting, the ancients were accustomed to burn frankincense in honour of the Lares, or Penates. H.

720. Matris Acidalia: Venus; so called from the fountain Acidalia in Boeotia, sacred to her, and to the Graces, who bathed in its waters. -Abolere Sychæum : 'to efface the image of Sychæus from her memory.'

722. Resides animos. . . . corda: her languid affections, and her heart long a stranger to love.'

724. Coronant: the larger vessel, containing the wine, appears to have had a garland laid on it previous to the libation. Homer, Il. a. 470, 9. 232; Geo. ii. 528; Æn. iii. 525.

730. A Belo: this could not therefore have been Dido's father, but a distant ancestor. The conjecture that Dido had conveyed away the treasures of her brother, not those of Sychæus, is here confirmed. A curious incident during the reign of Nero, respecting a pretended discovery of these treasures, is recorded by Tacitus, Annal. xvi. 1.-Soliti : sc. sunt implere.

735. Cœtum.... celebrate faventes: 'join heartily in celebrating this joyful meeting.'

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737. Libato: sc. mero; after the libation.'

เ

738. Increpitans: inclamans, Serv.; ́ with a lively challenge.' 739. Proluit auro: 'drained the cup.'

740. Crinitus: the singers at banquets wore their hair long, in imitation, perhaps, of the fashion in which Apollo is represented. H. 742. Labores: eclipses.'

743. Ignes: lightning.'

745, 746. Repeated from Geo. ii. 481-2.

750. Super: de Priamo.

751. Aurora.... filius: Memnon; whose arms were fabricated by Vulcan. The inquiries of Dido are all natural and proper for a female. 752. Quantus: probably, 'what was the stature, the person of Achilles.'

ENEID. BOOK II.

THE hero of the poem was introduced in the preceding book, after he had sustained a series of misfortunes and sufferings for nearly seven years, in his wanderings in quest of Italy. He is now made to recount these sufferings to Dido and her guests, and to describe the scenes of horror which he witnessed at the sacking of Troy, and in which he bore a conspicuous part himself. The subject is introduced with much feeling and beauty; and the narration continues through the whole of this book, and the one following. The reader is thus made acquainted with the whole history of events up to the time when the Trojans are driven ashore by the storm, on the coast of Africa, near to Carthage. The verse is highly finished, and the circumstance that it was one of the books selected by Virgil to rehearse before Augustus, as a specimen of the Eneid, shows in what esteem it was held by the author himself. 1. Intentique ora tenebant: 'in eager attention fixed their eyes on him.'

5. Danai: the Greeks.' They were so called from Danăus, brother of Ægyptus, who usurped the throne of Argos.

7. Myrmidonum: the Myrmidons were the troops of Achilles, from Ægina, an island in the Saronic Gulf. D.-Dolopumve: the Dolopians were the troops which Phoenix led to Troy from Scyros, an island in the Egan sea. Davidson.

9. Præcipitat: the night is descending from the heavens;' i. e. having nearly finished its course; as we say of the sun, when it is going down.-Cadentia sidera: i. e. the stars which rose in the east, at evening twilight, are now going down in the west; which shows the time to be near morning.

12. Refugit: the perfect tense, denoting the quickness of emotion with which his mind recoiled from the painful subject.

17. Votum pro reditu: an offering to obtain a prosperous return.' 18. Delecta virùm. corpora: for viros delectos. Ante omnia corpora Nisus Emicat, An. v. 318.-Sortiti: 'having drawn lots.' 23. Malè fida: 'unsafe.'

25. Abiisse: eos, understood.—Mycenas: put for Greece in general. 29. Tendebat: sc. tentoria; a military phrase.

30. Acie in regular battle.'

34. Dolo: Thymates is suspected of treachery in giving this ad

vice.

39. Incertum: fickle.'

48. Error: fraud.' This word is used in an extensive signification for the opposite to truth.

49. Et dona ferentes

even offering gifts to the gods.' Strongly expressive of the hypocrisy of the Greeks.

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54. Lava Ecl. i. 16; had the Trojans not been infatuated.' 55. Impulerat for impulisset; he would have prevailed on us.' 57. Manus: acc. pl. governed by quod ad.

:

62. Seu versare dolos: either to accomplish his treacherous design.' 65. Crimine ab uno: from this instance of deceit and treachery.' 75. Quidve ferat: what he might have to relate.'-Quæ.... capto: 'what were his grounds of hoping for mercy now he was a prisoner. H. 77. Fuerit quodcumque: whatever may be the result." H. 80. Finxit:formed.'-Vanum . . . . mendacemque: heartless and false.'

81. Fando aliquod: 'something you may have heard by report.' Aliorum narratione. H.

83. Falsa sub proditione: 'under a false charge of treachery.' 84. Infando indicio upon infamous testimony.' Ulysses forged letters from Priam to Palamedes, upon the testimony of which Palamedes was convicted of holding a treasonable correspondence with the enemy, and stoned to death. For the cause of Ulysses' villany, see Palamedes, in Classical Dictionary.

88. Regno incolumis: 'whilst Palamedes yet remained on the throne.' 91. Superis concessit ab oris : i. e. ad loca infera; 'was deprived of life.'

96. Promisi ultorem sc. me; I threatened to be the avenger.' 99. Arma means of defence,' against the nienaces of Sinon. 104. Atridæ here Sinon, having excited expectation, cunningly breaks off.

107. Ficto pectore: 'from his lying heart.'

121. Fata parent sc. mortem. Serv.

123. Numina: 'the interpretation of the response ;' i. e. whom the gods require to be sacrificed.

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124. Mihi jam multi. . . . videbant: many foretold to me the inhuman design which was plotting, and in silence witnessed its progress.'

126. Tectus: dissembling.'

127. Opponere morti: to doom to death.'

129. Composito: 'by a preconcerted plan.'

141. Quod propter quod. Serv. Quocirca. D.

150. Quò wherefore;' an adverb: or with consilio, or some similar word, understood; with what design.'

154. Ignes the sun, moon, and heavenly bodies. Serv.; En. iii. 599.

157. Fas.... resolvere jura: 'it is lawful for me to absolve myself from the sacred obligations I was under to the Greeks.' lest he should be reputed a traitor to his country.

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He says this

158. Ferre sub auras: to bring to light; to disclose.' 159. Si qua tegunt: si, for siquidem; all their secrets.' D. 161. Si magna rependam: it for the favour now received I shall make a valuable return.'

173. Luminibus: from the eyes of the statue.'

175. Emicuit: exsiluit. Serv. If the Palladium represented, as has been said, Minerva sitting, the miracle would be more striking.

178. Omina ni repetant: here the poet alludes to Roman customs. During their early warfare, when unsuccessful, they returned to Rome, to take fresh auspices. In the distant expeditions which they undertook in process of time, their return to Rome would have been impracticable; they therefore consecrated a part of the lands they had taken in the enemy's country; which, for the purpose of augury, was called Roman territory.

182. Digerit omina: interprets the omens.'

186. Caloque educere: to raise it to such a height as seemed to reach the clouds.'

188. Antiquâ sub relligione: in place of the palladium. D.

200. Objicitur is presented;' or 'happens.'

201. Sorte: when a divinity had no certain priest, and one was wanted, he was commonly chosen by lot. D.

206. Jubæque sanguinea: and their bloody crests.'

212. Agmine certo: with direct and steady movement.' que agmine cauda, Geo. iii. 423.

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220. Nodos: the folds of the serpents twisting round.' 229. Insinuat se, understood.

Extrema

234. Muros, et mania: these are not synonymous. Muros, the walls by which the town is surrounded; mania, its parapets and fortifications. Čum penè ædificata, in muris, ab exercitu nostro mania viderentur. Cæs. de B. C. ii.

235. Accingunt: se, understood.-Rotarum lapsus: 'wheels;' which are poetically said to be labentia.

241. Divum domus: this line, Servius says, is taken from Ennius; Troy receives this appellation, either on account of its walls, which the gods had erected, D.; or of its numerous temples.

250. Vertitur: the sky was imagined to be divided into two hemispheres; that which during the night covered the earth, now arose from the ocean, with the night itself. Lux.... præcipitatur aquis, et aquis nox surgit ab isdem, Ŏvid. Met. iv. 92.

273. Trajectus lora: a Græcism; as miles fractus membra. 274. Hei mihi: this also is a verse of Ennius.

Serv.

275. Exuvias: the arms of Achilles taken from Patroclus.

309. Manifesta fides: sc. Sinonis; spoken in bitter irony; then, indeed, was the treachery of Sinon manifest.' This passage has received

various interpretations. Heyne explains it thus; uti rebus fides fieri dicitur eventu; as much as to say, the whole is now manifest.' 312. Ucalegon: for Ucalegontis domus.

314. Nec sat rationis: as the city was taken and in flames, to resort to arms was no proof of wisdom.

317. Succurrit: sc. menti; 'I reflect.'

322. Quam prendimus arcem: where are we to take refuge?' Panthus was then in the act of abandoning the citadel; Æneas therefore inquires what other spot is to be defended to the last.

324. Venit.. urbe in what poet, ancient or modern, can a passage be cited more highly wrought, more pathetic, or more comprehensively eloquent than this?

328. Mediis in manibus: in the middle of the city.'

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329. Incendia miscet: spreads the flames; scatters fire.'

332. Angusta viarum: 'the narrow streets.' Opaca locorum, verse 725; Adam's Lat. Gram. R. viii. Obs. 4.

333. Stat ferri.... neci: 'the drawn sword, with glittering point, prepared for slaughter, awaits us.'

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336. Numine divûm: as if possessed, irresistibly impelled by some divinity.'

343. Venerat: qui, understood.-Insano: either an epithet of the passion in general, as insanus amor, Ecl. x. 44; or signifying ill-timed, when thought of at such an unfortunate period. Serv.

344. Gener: the son-in-law' of Priam, in hope and expectation. 345. Furentis: inspired.'

349. Si vobis.... sequi: 'if it be your resolve to follow me rushing on inevitable destruction.'

364. Inertia. ... corpora: 'the unresisting;' as old men and children.

367. Quondam: for aliquando; as Geo. iii. 99.

377. Sensit.... delapsus: a Græcism for se delapsum esse. D.

379. Aspris for asperis.

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381. Attollentem iras: enraged, raising his head.'

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382. Abibat: very properly in the imperfect, was retreating;' he did not succeed in effecting his escape.

388. Dextra propitious.'

390. An virtus: adhibeatur, or some similar verb, understood.

396. Haud numine nostro : 6

with the gods adverse to us,' verse 402; or under the semblance of being protected by the divinities favouring the Greeks, whose armour they wore.

421. Insidiis by stratagem.'

423. Sono either noticing the difference of dialect, or the want of the Grecian watch-word.

Serv.

427. qui: this is elliptical; so great were his virtues, that, according to our ideas, he ought not to have fallen; but, dîs aliter visum: 'it seemed otherwise to the gods.'

:

438. Pugnam sc. cernimus; we behold a most bloody conflict.' 441. Testudine: this was a covering, or shelter, formed of their shields, extended over their heads, and closing with each other, called testudo, from its resemblance to a tortoise shell: the men in each rank defending and covering those immediately before them. This mode of defence is described, Livy, xliv. 9.

443. Gradibus: the steps leading to the palace; or by means of ladders.

449. Alii strictis mucronibus: these were probably the Trojan guards

stationed within the palace, and mentioned in verse 485 as seen standing at the entrance.

453. Limen erat....a tergo: there was an entrance by a secret door, serving for a free communication between the two palaces of Priam, a postern gate in the rear.'

457. Ad soceros: to Priam and Hecuba. A detached portion of Priam's palace appears to have been formerly inhabited by Hector: the front gate or door of which was now occupied by the enemy. Eneas therefore gains admission by the above mentioned postern. The image, full of tenderness, of Andromache carrying the child to his grandsire, contrasting so completely with the work of ruin now proceeding on the same spot, shows the hand of a master.

460. In præcipiti stantem: 'projecting.'-Sub astra eductam: 'much elevated.'

463. Quả summa .juncturas tabulata dabant: where the upper story, constructed of wood, afforded joints or intervals.'-Labantes: faciles ad resolutionem, Serv.; which easily gave way.'

465. Impulimus: Servius makes a sly remark, that we are not told where, exactly, the persons stood who carried on this operation.-Ea lapsa.... trahit: a successful adaptation of the words to the sense. 471. Coluber: sc. processit.—Mala gramina pastus; 'which has fed on poisonous herbs. Βεβρωκώς κακὰ φάρμακ'. Π. χ. 94.

479. Ipse Pyrrhus.

480. Postes @ratos: 'the doors covered with brass he strives to wrench from their hinges.' Through these doors, made of hard wood, Pyrrhus succeeds in making an opening.

481. Excisa trabe: 'having broken the cross-bar.' H.-Firma cavavit robora: 'he pierced the solid wood, of which the door was composed.'

482. Dedit....fenestram: made a breach or aperture.'

490. Oscula figunt: as bidding their last farewell.

491. Vi patria: with violence like that of his father,' Achilles.

494. Rumpunt aditus: they force an entrance for themselves.' H. 506. Requiras: in the course of the narration, not another line occurs in which Æneas addresses, or takes any notice of his auditors. 508. Medium in penetralibus: for in mediis penetralibus.

512. Etheris axe: 'in the open air;' the altar stood in a court surrounded by buildings, and was dedicated, according to Athenæus, Lib. v, to Jupiter Herceus, oxalos.

515. Hic Hecuba: altars and consecrated places were considered a secure refuge from danger.

526. Pyrrhi de cæde: from the sword of Pyrrhus.'

529. Infesto vulnere: with deadly intent.'

533. Mediâ.... morte: though instant death impended.'

536. Pietas quæ talia curet: i. e. if any regard is paid by the gods to men's observance of moral duties, and any punishment inflicted on such misdeeds.

546. Umbone pependit: in the centre of the shield was a round bunch rising up, called a boss, umbo, außwv. This may have been formed of hide, or any other soft substance, laid on the metal with which the shield itself was plated. The umbo. may thus have been penetrated, and the dart remain infixed, hanging downwards, though repelled by the metal underneath. Il. y. 347-8.

549. Neoptolemum: Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, was called Neoptolemus, because he came to the war when very young, or because he came late to the siege.