Perventum, et nati fletus cognovit inanis 375 380 385 390 395 375. The lamentations of her son appeared to the alarmed Cyrene inanis, after she had heard them; for she was certain she could find a remedy. -377. Napkins of wool, the rough ends being carefully removed, so as to present a smooth surface. -378. Et, and (at the end of the first course) reponunt; re having its proper force.-379. Panchaeis. Arabian. See Georg. ii. 139.-380. The feasts of the ancients were closed with a libation to the gods. See Aen. i. 728. Maeonii Bacchi, Lydian wine. See next note.-384. Vestam, for ignem. See a similar usage, Ecl. iv. 32, v. 69, and other passages. -386. Animum. Either of Aristaeus, or more probably her own. -387, &c. Virgil, imitating Homer (Od. iv. 364, &c.), represents Cyrene as recommending Aristaeus to consult Proteus, an Egyptian sea-god (hence Carpathio, from the island Carpathus, between Crete and Rhodes, that part of the Mediterranean which washed the shores of Egypt), who was skilled in a knowledge of all events. Following an old myth, Virgil represents Proteus as visiting his native Pallene, a promontory of Macedonia, called here Emathia. — 393. So Homer (Il. i. 70) describes Calchas ὃς ᾅδη τά τ' ἐόντα, τά τ' ἐσσόμενα, πρό τ' ἐόντα. - -397. Secundare eventus, secundum reddere quod male evenit.399. Vim tende, figurative; vincula tende, literal. This is not un common. So in Pope 'Where gentle Anna, whom three realms obey, Does sometimes counsel take, and sometimes tea.' 405 Tende; doli cicum haec demum frangentur inancs. 400 Videris, incepto tegeret cum lumina somno.' 410 Haec ait, et liquidum ambrosiae diffundit odorem, 415 Quo totum nati corpus perduxit; at illi Dulcis compositis spiravit crinibus aura, Atque habilis membris venit vigor. Est specus ingens Exesi latere in montis, quo plurima vento Cogitur inque sinus scindit sese unda reductos, 420 Deprensis olim statio tutissima nautis; Intus se vasti Proteus tegit objice saxi. Hic juvenem in latebris, aversum a lumine, Nympha Collocat; ipsa procul nebulis obscura resistit. Jam rapidus torrens sitientis Sirius Indos 425 Ardebat caelo, et medium sol igneus orbem Hauserat; arebant herbae, et cava flumina siccis 400. Circum haec. A singular use of circum, round about; that is, through means of.-408. Leaena. It has been asked, why a lioness? And how had a lioness a mane, fulva cervice?-410. These transformations will remind the young reader of a similar struggle to escape in the 'Arabian Nights' Entertainments,' and may suggest the fact, that there is a wonderful similarity in popular traditions all over the world. -415, &c. Cyrene anointed Aristaeus with sweet-smelling ambrosia, to give him the strength necessary for the achievement before him.-416. Illi. Not governed by dulcis, but spiravit, with the force of ab illo.-420. Sinus reductos. Either the inmost windings of the cave, or rather the convex curves that waves are formed into when they dash against the rocks. See Aen. i. 161.-421. In front of this cave, and sheltered by the mountain, was safe anchorage for ships caught in a storm.- 424. Procul. See Ecl. vi. 16.-425. Sirius expresses the time of the year, the hottest period, when the dog-star rises, about the end of July.427. Hauserat. This expresses the time of day-mid-day-when the sun is hottest. Haurire, completely to drain-to finish. 430 435 440 Ibat; eum vasti circum gens humida ponti Et graviter frendens sic fatis ora resolvit: 445 450 Magna luis commissa: tibi has miserabilis Orpheus Illa quidem, dum te fugeret per flumina praeceps, At chorus aequalis Dryadum clamore supremos 460 431. Rorem. Ros is applied to any liquid. See Aen. vi. 229. Here it is sea-water. -432. Somno. Either the abl. in, or the dative for. Diversae, diversis locis. See Aen. i. 70.-444. In sese, in suam formam. Ad se redire is a common phrase, applied not to the body, but to the mind. -445. Nam refers to a supposed train of thought on the part of Proteus, such as, 'I would fain know how you came to know my secret haunt.'-447. Est. For est with the force of licet, see Zumpt, $227. Quidquam. The accusative of the remoter object, as it is called; equivalent to ulla ex parte. -448. Velle effugere.-452. Fatis. The dative, to announce.-453. Non nullis. Equivalent to alicujus. Nullius by the arsis. -454, 455. Miserabilis haud quaquam ob meritum. For a most spirited version of the quest of Orpheus, see Pope's Ode for Music on Cecilia's Day, iv.-vi.-460. Aequalis. Her companions.-461. Virgil represents Thrace as mourning for Eurydice. This he varies by introducing 465 470 475 Altaque Pangaea, et Rhesi Mavortia tellus, 480 485 490 the heights of Rhodope and Pangaeus, Thracian mountains-the land of Rhesus, king of Thrace (see Aen. i. 471)-the Getae, a people bordering on Thrace-the Hebrus, a river of Thrace, and Orithyia, daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens (hence Actias, a feminine patronymic, from Acte, a name for Attica), carried into Thrace by Boreas. Rhodopeïae. The last syllable unelided, and short, both according to the Greek usage.- 463. The ae of Getae unelided. Orithyia, a word of four syllables; in Greek, ovia. -467. Taenarias. One of the entrances to the infernal regions was said to be by the Promontorium Tuenarium, in the south of La. conia.-475-477. These lines are repeated. Aen. vi. 306-308. 484. Vento. Join rota orbis with vento, having this sense-that the rotation was caused by the wind-the wind-caused revolution ceased. 491. Victus animi. In imitation of the Greek idiom for animo. See Zumpt, $437.-492. Effusus. A figurative expression, from water poured out and lost. Foedera, terque fragor stagnis auditus Avernis. pheu, 495 500 505 Quis tantus furor? En iterum crudelia retro Discerptum latos juvenem sparsere per agros. 510 515 496. Natantia. The same expression is again applied to the eyes of one dying, Aen. v. 856; and is used by other authors.-500. Tenuis, join to auras.-502. Portitor Orci. Charon.-506. Observe the force of the imperfect nabat; she was sailing away, while he knew not what to do.-507. Ex ordine. Has the force of continuos. -511, &c. Qualis, &c. One of the noblest similes in poetry.514. Noctem. So Milton Nor then the solemn nightingale ceased warbling, -517. Tanaim (the Don), a river of Sarmatia. -518. Rhipaeis Properly the Oural Mountains; but often used, as here, to denote any northern chain. 520. Ciconum. A tribe of the Thracians; here taken for the Thracians generally. Quo munere. Munus must here mean the affectionate duty discharged by Orpheus to the me mory of Eurydice. |