822. utcumque ferent minores, however posterity shall report his deeds. In these words Anchises admits the cruelty of the act, but immediately excuses it on the ground of patriotism. 824. Decios, etc.: the Decii, father, son, and grandson, solemnly devoted themselves to death (like Arnold of Winkelried), each to win a doubtful battle, in the wars of the Latins, of the Samnites, and of Pyrrhus respectively; Torquatus (T. Manlius) won his title, with a golden neckchain, by slaying a gigantic Gaul; Camillus, returning from banishment, drove back the victorious Gauls, winning back the conquered standards (referentem signa). The Drusi, a respectable but not eminent family, are here mentioned in compliment to Livia, wife of Augustus. 827. concordes animae: Pompey and Cæsar, in equal arms (paribus in armis), since their power was about equal. ... 828. si attigerint, if they once attain the light of life. The artifice by which all these future events are represented as contingent and uncertain softens a little the bleak reality. 830. socer: Cæsar, whose daughter Julia was the third and best beloved wife of Pompey. She died B.C. 54, while Cæsar was in Gaul. arce Monoeci, the rampart of Monacus (Monaco), on the coast just east of Nice. It is given here, generally, to signify Cæsar's passage from Gaul into Italy. 831. gener Eois: the main reliance of Pompey was on the forces of the East. ... 832. adsuescite: the expression seems to refer to the naturally humane temper of both the rivals. 834. tu prior: Cæsar, as the more illustrious. Besides, the exploits of Cæsar, as a popular chief, were distasteful to the courtiers of Augustus, and it was fashionable to make little account of them. Hence the objurgatory tone. 836. ille: L. Mummius, conqueror of Corinth, B. C. 146. — triumphata, here transitive in the sense of triumph over. 837. currum, alluding to the well-known triumphal procession. 838. ille: L. Æmilius Paullus, conqueror of Perseus (aciden, as descended from Achilles), B.C. 168. By Argos, etc., is meant all Greece, of which, in Anchises' time, this was the chief city. 840. templum Minervae, see ii. 163. 841-4. Cato, etc. These heroes are Cato the Censor; Cossus, a hero of the early wars against the Gauls; the Gracchi, the celebrated tribunes of the people, one of whose ancestors had distinguished himself in Spain; the Scipios, Africanus elder and younger; Fabricius, " strong in poverty," who defeated Pyrrhus; Serranus (the famous Regulus), a general in the first Punic war: the name was given to Regulus from the anecdote of his sowing in the field (sulco serentem) when the news was brought of his election as consul. 845. quo fessum rapitis, whither do you hurry me, out of breath? - Maxumus (Fabius), the commander against Hannibal. The following verse is taken almost verbally from Ennius (see Cic. Cato Major, 4, 10), and refers to his method of waging war, whence he was called Cunctator. 847. spirantia aera, the breathing bronze, statues like life. 848. vivos... voltus, shall mould the living features in marble. The expression ducere applies strictly to yielding materials, like metal, clay, or wax, and suggests that marble itself is pliable in the hands of a consummate artist. 849. orabunt melius: in forensic oratory, the names of Crassus, Hortensius, and Cicero, stand as high as their Greek masters. But Anchises purposely disparages every other glory-art, oratory, science beside that of arms. 852. pacis morem, the terms of peace. 853. parcere subiectis (see Liv. xxx. 42): remorseless as was the Roman policy of conquest, it did protect the existence of the subject states. 854. mirantibus: Æneas and the Sibyl are filled with amazement at the grandeur of these prophetic words, — hinting, as has been suggested, that Virgil was stirred himself by the tone of the passage. 855. Marcellus (M. Claudius), one of the best generals against the Gauls, and afterwards against Hannibal, called the "Sword of Rome." The spolia opima were won by slaying with his own hand the Gallic chief Viridomarus. His name is mentioned last, to introduce that of his young namesake. 857. tumultu, alarm: strictly, the name for civil war. Cicero (Phil. viii. 1), says, "Potest enim esse bellum sine tumultu; tumultus esse sine bello non potest. Quid est enim tumultus, nisi perturbatio tanta, ut maior timor oriatur? unde etiam nomen ductum est tumultus. Itaque maiores nostri tumultum Italicum, quod erat domesticus; tumultum Gallicum, quod erat Italiae finitimus; praeterea nullum nominabant." 858. sistet, shall set firm (contrasted with tumultu). — eques: the most celebrated exploits of Marcellus were with cavalry. 859. Quirino, the Sabine god of battles (identified with the deified Romulus), to whom the spolia opima were consecrated. 865. quantum instar (this word had originally the sense of image, from stare), what a likeness! - ipso, opposed to comitum. 868. gnate the antique spelling is thought to be preferred by Virgil in solemn discourse. 869. ostendent tantum: the young Marcellus, son of Octavia, sister of Augustus, died in his twentieth year. 871. fuissent, properly sub. of indirect discourse standing for fut. perf.; lit., "it seemed would be, if these gifts should have been," etc., but best translated by if these gifts had been. 872. quantos virum gemitus, what lamentation of strong men! Mavortis urbem: Rome, the city of Mars. 873. quae funera: in the funeral procession of the young Marcellus, there were six hundred couches containing the images of his illustrious kindred. The funeral was on the Campus Martius. 874. tumulum: the ruins of the immense tomb are still to be seen near the Tiber. (See Fig. 123.) 876. spe tollet avos, shall elate with hope his forefathers, who are supposed to be aware of his merits even while in the shades below. illi (§ 228, 6). 879. tulisset, i.e. if he had lived. 881. seu... . armos, or spur the flanks of the foaming steed, repeating the allusion of v. 858. 882. rumpas (§ 307, b, R.; G. 598; H. 511, 1, N.'). 883. tu Marcellus eris, thou shalt be Marcellus, when born upon earth; or a Marcellus, worthy of so illustrious a name. A celebrated anecdote relates that, when Virgil recited these lines before Augustus, Octavia swooned; and on her recovery ordered ten thousand sesterces to be given to the poet for each of the verses in which mention was made of her son. 885. inani munere, idle service, because the boy would never come to maturity. 887. aeris campis, cf. largior aether, v. 640. 889. famae ... amore, with desire of the coming glory. 893. geminae portae: this description of the horn and ivory gates is taken from the words of Penelope to Odysseus (Od. xix. 562-567; Bry. 678). In the Greek, the fulfilment or non-fulfilment of the dream is hinted by a play of words (κέρας, κραίνω; ἐλέφας, ἐλεφαίρομαι). There is no such significance in Latin; and Virgil appears to have adopted the imagery as part of the Homeric tradition, and also to hint at another passage from the land of dreams than that by which Æneas had entered. By those who think this book a symbolic exhibition of certain mysteries, the legend of the Gates, with the dismissal of Æneas from the ivory one, is considered a warning that the language may not be taken literally, or understood except by the initiated. — fertur, is reported (citing the above legend). 900. recto litore, along the shore. LIST OF PLANTS TAKEN PRINCIPALLY FROM FÉE'S "FLORE DE VIRGILE." THE BOTANICAL Cul. Culex.-Cop. Copa. -E. Eclogues.-G. Georgics. - ABIES (nigra), fir, a hardy mountain evergreen tree (E. vii. 66). ACONITUM, monk's-hood, a well-known poisonous herb (G. ii. 152). ALGA, sea-weed, also fresh-water confervae (E. vii. 42). ALLIUM, garlic, a rank edible bulb, like the onion (E. ii. II; M. 88). ALNUS, alder, a tall, slender, tree-like bush, growing near the water (E. vi. 63; G. ii. 110): Betula alnus. AMARACUS, sweet marjoram, a fragrant herb (Æn. i. 693). AMARANTHUS, Coxcomb (amaranth = unfading), an agreeable flowering plant, retaining its color when dry, and used for wreaths in winter (C. 405): Celosia cristata. AMELLUS (pratensis), purple starwort, a meadow flower (G. iv. 271). ARBOR INDICA, an unknown, perhaps fabulous, tree (G. ii. 122). ARBUTUS, strawberry tree (arbute), a wild tree having an astringent fruit (E. iii. 82): Arbutus unedo. ARUNDO, reed, a riverside plant, with hollow stem, used for musical instruments (E. vi. 8, vii. 12); of five different species. AVENA, oat, especially the barren or wild oat (E. i. 2; G. i. 154). BACCAR, fox-glove, an herb with purplish flower and fragrant root (E. iv. 19): Digitalis purpurea. BALSAMUM, balsam, a fragrant oriental resin (G. ii. 119), probably of several different sorts, especially Amyris opobalsamum. |