Usque adeo obnixi non cedere, dum gravis aut hos, $5 Hi motus animorum, atque hæc certamina tanta Dede neci; melior vacua sine regnet in aula. 90 Alter erit maculis auro squalentibus ardens, Nam duo sunt genera, hic melior, insignis et ore, Et rutilis clarus squamis; ille horridus alter Namque aliæ turpes horrent; ceu pulvere ab alto Verum ubi ductores.] In this paragraph the poet teaches how to distinguish the best sort of bees. At cum incerta volant, &c.] This paragraph treats of the 95 100 means to prevent the bees from leaving their situation. Frigida tecta.] It is in summer that the bees swarm, and as they are to be defended from the extremities of heat and cold, Instabiles animos ludo prohibebis inani. 105 Et custos furum atque avium cum falce saligna 110 Ipse thymum pinosque ferens de montibus altis the hives may in this sense be Tu, &c.] Columella informs us how we may take hold of the king of the bees with impunity namely, by perfuming the hand with balm, which will cause the bees not to fly away or resist. Vellere signa.] Vellere signa was used by the Romans, to express the moving of their camp; for when they pitched their camp, they struck their ensigns into the ground before the general's tent; and plucked them up when they decamped. Croceis halantes floribus horti.] Saffron flowers seem to be put here for odorous flowers in general. Hellespontiaci servet tutela Priapi.] The poet does not 115 mean that a statue of Priapus should be set up to defend the bees but that they should be invited by such gardens, as may deserve to be under the protection of that deity. Priapus was worshipped principally at Lampsacum, a city on the Hellespont. Thymum.] The thyme of the ancients is not our common thyme, but the thymus capitatus, qui Dioscoridis C. B. which now grows in great plenty upon the mountains in Greece. The Attic honey was accounted the best, because of the excellence of this sort of thyme, which grows about Athens. Vela traham, &c.] A metaphor taken from sailing. Biferique rosaria Pasti.] "Pæstum is a town of Calabria, where the roses blow twice in a year." Servius. Quoque modo potis gauderent intuba rivis, 120 Et virides apio ripe, tortusque per herbam Cresceret in ventrem cucumis: nec sera comantem Narcissum, aut flexi tacuissem vimen acanthi, Namque sub Ebaliæ memini me turribus altis, Quoque modo potis gauderent intuba rivis.] The plant which Virgil means in this place is endive. See the note on book i. ver. 120. Virides apio ripæ.] Apium is thought to be derived from apes, because bees are fond of that plant. Tortusque per herbam cresceret in ventrem cucumis.] The poet gives a beautiful description of the cucumber in a few words. The winding of the stalk along the ground, and the swelling of the fruit, excellently distinguish these plants. Sera comantem narcissum.] We have no reason to doubt, but that the narcissus of the ancients is some species of that which we now call narcissus or daffodil. Amantes littora myrtos.] Myrtles delight in growing near the sea shore. 125 130 towers of Ebalia, because a colony from Laconia, under the conduct of Phalantus, came to Calabria, and augmented the city of Tarentum. Galesus.] Galesus is a river of Calabria, which flows near Tarentum. Relicti.] Servius interprets this word forsaken and contemptible. The land was neither fit for vineyards, corn, nor pasture, and therefore the Calabrians neglected it. But this old man knew how to make use of it, by converting it into a garden, and apiary. Virgil, therefore, shews the Romans, that a piece of land might be fit neither for corn, which is the subject of his first book; nor vines, of which he treats in his second; nor cattle, which take up the third; and yet, that by the example of this foreigner, they might know how to cultivate it to advantage. Seges.] See the note on book ii. ver. 266. Albaque circum lilia.] The white lilies are those which Lilia, verbenasque premens, vescumque papaver, Primus abundare, et spumantia cogere pressis 135 140 145 were most celebrated and best known among the ancients. Verbenas.] The verbena, from whence our English name vervain is derived, was a sacred herb among the Romans. Premens.] It has been observed, in the note on book ii. ver. 346. that virgulta premere properly signifies the increasing of a plant by layers. But here premens must be understood of planting in general. Ille comam mollis jam tum tondebat acanthi.] The acanthus here spoken of is an herb, and by comam is meant the leaves. The epithet mollis is added to express the softness and tenderness of these leaves. Ergo apibus fætis.] The poet always takes care in his digressions, not to forget the principal subject. Therefore he mentions, in this place, the benefits which accrued to the old Corycian, from this extraordinary care of his garden, with regard to his bees. Spinos jam pruna ferentes.] "The plum-tree is called spinus, in the masculine gender; for thorns [sentes] are called le spina." Servius. Nunc age, naturas apibus quas Jupiter ipse Curetum sonitus crepitantiaque æra secutæ, Solæ communes natos, consortia tecta 150 Urbis habent, magnisque agitant sub legibus ævum ; 155 160 165 Dict, or Dictaus mons, is a mountain of Crete, where Jupiter was said to be concealed. Narcissi lacrymam. The flowers of narcissus, or daffodil, form a cup in the middle. These cups are supposed to contain the tears of the youth Narcissus, who wept to death. Ignavum fucos pecus a præsepibus arcent.] The drones are a sort of bees without stings, which do not assist the others in their labour. On this account it is generally thought, |