658.] Centum-Hydram,' êv dıà dvoîv, rather awkwardly expressed, as it would seem at first sight that the 'angues' and the 'serpentes' were different. Virg., as Cerda and others have remarked, imitates Eur. Phoen. 1134 foll. :

ταῖς δ ̓ ἑβδόμαις ̓́Αδραστος ἐν πύλαισιν ἦν, ἑκατὸν ἐχίδναις ἀσπίδ ̓ ἐκπληρῶν γραφῇ, ὕδρας ἔχων λαιοῖσιν ἐν βραχίοσιν ̓Αργεῖον αὔχημ.

659.] The name Rhea of course is borrowed from the story of Romulus. The first syllable is made short by other poets: but Virg. doubtless followed the analogy of the Greek, where the goddess is called indifferently 'Peía and 'Péa. This seems to show that Niebuhr (Hist. vol. 1. p. 211 Eng. Tr.) is wrong in laying the blame of the confusion between the goddess and the priestess on the editors of Latin texts, as if the Romans invariably wrote the name of the priestess 'Rea.' Here Gud. originally had Rea,' and the letter 'h' is written in Rom. over an erasure. Nor does it appear likely, as Niebuhr conjectures, that Virg.'s Rhea was the daughter of Evander, as Aventinus fights against Evander and the Trojans. The name "Silvia " may have suggested to Virg. the birth of the child in the woods: comp. 6. 765. Other warriors however are born or bred in woods, as Virbius, below v. 763, and the son of Arcens, 9. 584.

660.] Furtivo,' the reading of some inferior MSS., may have come from the original reading of Pal. furtivom.' 'Partu edidit' like "partu dabit" 1. 274. Luminis oras' G. 2. 47 note, Munro on Lucr. 1. 22.

661.] Mixta deo mulier' from 11. 16. 176, γυνὴ θεῷ εὐνηθεῖσα, with a reference to the Greek use of μynval. For Hercules' visit to Italy comp. 8. 201 foll., and see Lewis vol. 1. pp. 288 foll.

662.] Tirynthius' of Hercules 8. 228. Hercules was said by some to have been

660

665

born at Tiryns, and by others to have lived there while he served Eurystheus (Dict. M. s. v.).

663.] "Versus poeticum ornatum habet commode ab eo petitum quod in armentorum cura proprium est lavare gregem, pro et armenta ex Hispania adduxit,' Heyne. Serv. remarks on the two epithets "admiratio, locorum longinquitate."

664.] Heyne rightly remarks that the transition here is abrupt, as we should have expected to hear definitely that these are the soldiers commanded by Aventinus. We are not even told whence they came, unless we are to infer it, as Gossrau thinks, from the epithet 'Sabello.' Mount Aventine, where Aventinus was born, was within Evander's territory, 8. 190 foll. Altogether the passage may be said to show the want of the poet's final revision. Pilum' (Dict. A. v. Hasta '), the wellknown Roman javelin. 'Dolo' is explained by Serv. to mean either a swordstick or a pole with a short iron point. The latter explanation he gives on the authority of Varro; the former is supported by Hesych., δόλωνες ξιφίδια ἐν ξύλοις Toкекρνμμéνа ; by Alfenus Dig. 9. 2. 52, cited by Forc.; and by the supposed etymology of the word from dóλos. Here at any rate we must suppose the latter to be meant. If the word is originally Latin, it would seem to be connected with "dolare." 'In bella' may either go with 'saevos' or with 'gerunt:' comp. G. 3. 50.

665.] Tereti mucrone veruque Sabello ' may be ev dià dvoîv, as Heyne suggests. For the 'veru,' "verutum," or σaúvion, see Dict. A. Hasta.' It was a Samnite weapon, which is probably the meaning of the epithet 'Sabello.' In G. 2. 168 the Volsci are called "veruti," so that the weapon may have been common to the early Italian nations.

666.] Torquens: see on 8. 460. Here it is loosely if not carelessly followed by 'indutus,' the meaning of the poet being

670

that the lion's skin is swathed round the body, while the head forms a sort of cap. This however is no reason for altering the text, with Peerlkamp and Ribbeck. In Rom. the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth letters of torquens' are written over an erasure. The form tegumen' or 'tegimen' has occurred already 3. 594. Tegumen leonis' like "tegmine lyncis" 1. 323. The mention of Aventinus as marching on foot, just after we have heard of him as driving his chariot, is another mark of incompleteness, which cannot be paralleled, as Heyne thinks, by the passages in the Homeric narrative, where heroes are represented as at one moment in their cars, at another fighting on foot. We can hardly suppose pedes' to mean 'dismounting from his car.'

667.] Inpexum' expresses the same as 'horridus' v. 669. Rom. has inplexu,' and one of Ribbeck's cursives (originally) and some inferior MSS. inplexum.' The sing. 'saeta,' where the pl. is meant, seems unusual, but perhaps follows the analogy of "crinis," capillus &c. "Caput ingens oris hiatus Et malae texere lupi cum dentibus albis" 11. 680, where see note.

668.] "Induere aliquid alicui" is not an uncommon construction (11. 76); so here, to the ordinary construction of indutus' with an acc. of the thing put on, a dative is added of that on which the thing is put. Sic 'refers to torquens' and indutus:' comp. 1. 225.

669.] This line expresses further the accoutrement with which he entered the palace of Latinus. For 'innexus' Pal. and Rom. have innixus:' see on 1. 448., 4. 217. "Crinem vittis innexa" 6. 281. 670-677.] 'Two brothers, Catillus and Coras, come from Tibur.'

670.] The story was that Catillus, son of Amphiaraus, settled in Italy, and that his three sons, Tiburtus, Catillus the younger, and Coras, founded Tibur. See

Heyne, Excurs. 8 to this Book.

671.] Med., Pal. corrected, and Gud. originally have fratres,' which would be a weak repetition. Rom. was said to read 'Tiburni' (comp. Hor. 1 Od. 7. 13), but Ribbeck gives its reading as 'Tiburthi.' Pal. has de nomine' as in 1. 533 &c. “Cognomine dicunt” 1. 530 &c. 'Gentem :' in founding a city they had founded a nation: comp. 1. 248.

672.] Catillus is the same as the Catilus of Hor. 1 Od. 18. 2. Stat. Silv. 1. 3. 100 (comp. by Forb.) has a further variety, Catillus with the first vowel short. 'Iuventus' is used somewhat boldly of two persons (in Aesch. Ag. 109 the MSS. have Ἑλλάδος ἥβαν of the two Atridae, though the editors are doubtless right in reading Bas from Aristoph.), unless we suppose Virg. to include the followers of the two brothers, who are not otherwise mentioned. Argos was the city of Amphiaraus.

673.] Primam ante aciem' above v. 531 &c. Densa inter tela' refers to the shower of darts (comp. 12. 408), not to ranks bristling with spears.

674.] The comparison seems to be Virg.'s own. Serv. rightly infers from it that the two brothers are horsemen, comp. 11. 465. 'Nubigenae' is used by other poets of the Centaurs: see Forc. Heyne rationalizes the epithet by supposing that it was originally applied to the Centaurs as dwelling in cloudy mountains, whence the legend of Ixion and the cloud. Such a notion may not impossibly have occurred to Virg. in the present connexion. npolv opeσkÝOLOL Il. 1. 268 of the Centaurs.

675.] Homole (in Thessaly) is mentioned by Eur. Herc. F. 371 in connexion with the Centaurs. Othrys (also in Thessaly) was the head-quarters of the Titans in their struggle with the gods, Hes. Theog. 632. Pliny 4. 8 (quoted by Cerda) speaks of " Pindus et Othrys, Lapitharum sedes."

677.] 'Silva' and 'virgulta' are coupled again 12. 522. They express the same thing, the one collectively, the other distributively. In 'magno-fragore' Virg. may have thought of Il. 13. 140, "T δ ̓ ἀναθρώσκων πέτεται, κτυπέει δέ θ ̓ ὑπ ̓ αὐτοῦ Ὕλη.

678-690.] Caeculus, son of Vulcan, leads troops from Praeneste and other places.'

678.] 'Praenestina urbs' for "Praeneste like "Agyllina urbs," v. 652 above, for "6 Agylla." Rom. has de

ficit.'

66

679.] The story, as told by Serv., is that there were two brothers known as "divi Indigetes" of the spot where Praeneste was built; that they had a sister, who, sitting near the fire, was struck by a spark, and conceived in consequence; that she dropped her child, when born, by the temple of Jupiter, and that it was there found close to the hearth by maidens going to a neighbouring spring for water. Mai's palimpsest Schol. gives this story in a briefer form on the authority of Cato's Origines, adding that the name Caeculus was derived from the smallness of his eyes, quam rem," observes Serv., "frequenter efficit fumus." Serv. goes on to say that he was at first a brigand, but afterwards founded a city; that he exhibited games, to which the neighbouring people were invited, when he proclaimed himself as the son of Vulcan; and that after doubting his pretensions, they were convinced by the sudden appearance of fire all round them, upon which they joined his community. The story seems a variety of that of Cacus. 'Pecora inter agrestia,' which goes with 'genitum,' is not explained by any detail in the account; but it may mean little more than "in agris." 'Regem' seems to be proleptic. 'Volcano,' abl."Fauno et Nymphae genitum Laurente Marica," v. 47 above.

680.] Inventum,' by the maidens men

680

'Omnis

tioned in the preceding note. aetas,' as we say, all time. It is more commonly used in the sense of every age,' i. e. persons of every time of life: see Dictt.

681.] 'Late' may either be used loosely to mean collected from far and wide, or may be closely connected with 'comitatur,' follows in a large and spreading multitude. Ribbeck reads 'late legio' from Med. and one of the inferior MSS., it is difficult to see why. Legio' used vaguely as in 8. 605 &c.

682.] Altum:' the town originally stood on a steep hill, and the citadel was a well-known stronghold (Dict. G. s. v.). 'Arva Gabinae Iunonis,' the territory of Gabii, Gabii itself not having been built, as Serv. remarks. The worship of Juno under different names was very general throughout that part of Italy (Dict. M. Juno').

683.] Anio' is the commoner form in the nom. 'Anien' ('Anienis,' '-i,' '-em') in the oblique cases (Dict. G. s. v.). "Roscida rivis' quod ait, rivi esse possunt nulli praeterquam Trerus et Cosa, Cluverio quoque monente." Heyne.

684.] "Herna" or "hernae," according to Serv. and Festus, was the word for rocks in the Sabine or Marsian language, so that Hernica saxa' is an expression like 66 novae Karthaginis" 1. 298, and others mentioned there. For the features of the country, "well characterized by Virg. in a single line," see Dict. G. 'Hernici.'

Dives' apparently from its fertility (Sil. 8. 392 foll., 12. 532 foll., quoted by Cerda), which would agree with 'pascit.' Bunbury (Dict. G. s. v.) explains the epithet by the importance of the city compared with its neighbours. Serv. has an odd notion that there is an allusion to Antony's having issued money with his name there after his union with Cleopatra. Heins. read 'pascis' from a few MSS. (none of Ribbeck's) and so Heyne. See on 2. 56.

692.] This property of invulnerability Virg. may have borrowed from the legend of Cycnus, who was a son of Poseidon (Dict. M. Cycnus'). Incombustibility, as Serv. says, would naturally be ascribed to the offspring of the god of Ocean. Gossrau comp. 11. 787, where the worshippers of Apollo of Soracte are said to walk through embers unhurt. 'Sternere' then will be joined with 'ferro' by zeugma. Forb. however interprets 'igni' of missile fire (8. 694 &c.). Some of Pierius' copies had'sistere.'

693.] Partly taken from 1. 722, "Iam pridem resides animos desuetaque corda." Comp. also 6. 813 foll., "Otia qui rumpet patriae residesque movebit Tullus in arma viros et iam desueta triumphis Agmina." For this quiescence of the Italian populations comp. v. 46 above, and see on v. 423.

6

695.] Acies' is connected with ‘habent' by a harsh zeugma, which may be a sign that the passage is unfinished. There is no reason however for assuming a lacuna with Ribbeck, still less for altering the text and transposing this and the preceding lines with Ladewig. For the connexion between Fescennium and Falerii see Dict. G., Fescennium' and 'Falerii,' as also the latter article for the different views that have been held about the 'Aequi Falisci.' Serv. took aequos' as an ordinary adj., explaining it by the statement that the Romans derived the "iura fecialia" and other laws from the Faliscans: others however, and Serv. himself on 10. 14, say that these were brought from the Aequiculi.

6

695

6

In Pal. Flavinia' is altered into Flaminia.' Here as elsewhere I have not noticed the MS. varieties of the proper names, which even in the best copies are apt to be grossly corrupted.

697.] Besides the lake and mountain of Ciminus, there was also a forest, which was regarded with special awe in the early history of Rome, so that the Senate once forbade a consul to lead his army through it: he had however passed it in safety before the order reached him, Livy 9. 36 foll. See Dict. G., where also the features of the country are described. 'Lucos Capenos' would naturally refer to Feronia, though that is mentioned by name in a different connexion v. 800 below.

698.] 'Aequati numero' would naturally mean in bands of equal numbers ("Conpositi numero in turmas " 11. 599), as Serv. and most editors have taken it. Yet the context is strongly in favour of another interpretation mentioned, though rejected, by Heyne, marching in measured time; and a passage in Sil. (3. 345 foll., also referred to by Heyne) looks as if he may so have understood it. The words will then go closely with 'ibant,' which they qualify like an adverb. Another writer might have written "aequato numero or "aequatum in numerum:" but Virg. characteristically prefers the more artificial expression. Regem: Messapus' indestructibility would doubtless make him the theme of many heroic stories, so that we need not wonder with Heyne that his followers sing of their living chief rather than of mere legendary worthies.

699.] From Il. 2. 459 foll., Apoll. 4. 1298 foll., though in the former passage the birds are not represented as singing. 'Quondam ' in comparisons like "saepe," G. 4. 261 note. For nubila' Pal. and Gud. have 'flumina,' the latter with a variant 6 nubila,' and so Ribbeck: but 'nubila' is more likely to have been altered into 'flumina' than vice versa, and the mention of the river in Hom. and Apoll. proves little, as Virg. may have purposely deferred