[585] Iamque adeo 5. 268. The company generally was mounted: see above v. 551.
[587] “Post alii proceres” 1. 740.
[588] Conspectus G. 3. 17, i. q. “conspicuus.” So “detestatus” 7and;c. for “detestabilis” or “detestandus.” Wagn. comp. Livy 21. 4 (of Hannibal), “Vestitus nihil inter aequalis excellens: arma et equi conspiciebantur.” “Pictis armis” 12. 281, also of the Arcadians, whom Serv. on 11. 93 asserts to have bvorne shields with figures of gods on them, arguing from Bacchylides fr. 16 Bergk, Ποσειδάνιον ὡς Μαντινεῖς τριόδοντα χαλκοδαιδάλοισιν ἐν ἀσπίσι φορεῦντες. Heyne takes it of arms inlaid with gold and silver (comp. Livy 9. 39, 40, who uses the word “picta” of the Samnite shields, having before spoken of their armour as “caelata”); others (Forb. on 7. 796) distinguish between painting and chasing or inlaying, and others again have supposed here ‘chlamyde et armis’ to be a hendiadys.
589] From Il. 5. 5, ἀστέρ᾽ ὀπωρινῷ ἐναλίγκιον, ὅστε μάλιστα Λαμπρὸν παμφαίνησι, λελουμένος Ὠ κεανοῖο.[590] “Ἕσπερος, ὃς κάλλιστος ἐν οὐρανῷ ἵσταται ἀστήρ” Il. 22. 318. “Astrorum ignes” 3. 585. Lucifer is the star of Venus, note on 2. 802.
[591] Heyne comp. G. 4. 232, “Taygete simul os terris ostendit honestum.” ‘Resolvit’ contrasted with the density of darkness. ‘Estulit’ may either be used aoristically of a thing which is wont to happen, or express sudden flashing on the sight. In the latter case ‘resolvit’ may be present. Comp. other uses of ‘extulit’ E. 1. 25 &c.
[592] Oculis sequuntur like “voce secutus” 1. 406.
[593] “Florentis aere catervas” 7. 804. “Pulveris exhalat nebulam nubesque volantis” Lucr. 5.253, comp. by Cerda.
[594] “Meta viarum” 3. 714. Where the end of the journey is nearest, as Wagn. remarks, means where the way is the shortest.
[595] Armati seems merely thrown in to give the picture. Wagn. ‘It clamor:’ when they have got out of the wooded ground into the open country they raise a shout, form in line and gallop along.
[596] This celebrated line is said by Macrob. Sat. 6. 1, 3 to be partly modelled on several in Ennius, especially A. 8. fr. 7, “consequitur: summo sonitu quatit ungula terram.” ‘Quadrupedans’ occurs Plaut, Capt. 4. 2. 34. Its combination with ‘sonitus’ reminds us of the boldness of Greek poetry. ‘Putrem’ suggests the notion of dust.
[597] ‘Cacritis’ an irregular gen., as if from a nom. “Caeres,” which is really the adj. of “Caere.” The river runs near the town, and is now called Vaccina.
[598] “Horrendum silvis et religione parentum” 7. 172. “Religione saerae” ib. 608. ‘Late’ may either mean that the whole neighbourhood counts the place sacred or that the sacredness extends over a wide precinct. The former is Serv.'s view.
[599] The grove stands in a valley among hills. The hills are called ‘cavi,’ as forming the valley, nearly as they are called “curvi” 5. 287 note. ‘Cingunt’ is the reading of all Ribbeck's MSS., ‘cingit’ being only found in inferior copies, and in the MSS. of Maerob., who quotes the passage sat. 3. 3. Heins. and Heyne thought ‘nemus’ could be the subject of ‘cingunt’ as a noun of multitude, which is quite unVirgilian. ‘Cingit’ is very tempting, as the hills themselves would naturally be wood-crowned (comp. 5. 287): but the want of authority must decide against it. Admitting ‘cingunt,’ we may still doubt whether to construct ‘abiete’ with ‘nemus’ (Jahn) or with ‘cingunt’ (Forb.). The appearance of the passage is in favour of the latter. ‘Inclusere’ perf., expressing effect, like “recessit” 2. 300.
[600] For accounts of the Pelasgians in Italy see Lewis vol. 1. pp. 272, 3, 281 foll. Caere was one of the towns on which they were supposed to have impressed their influence most indelibly, Dionys. H. 1. 20., 3. 58, referred to by Heyne.
[601] Silvanus E. 10. 24, G. 1. 20. ‘Arvorum pecorisque’ put generally for country matters as in G. 4. 559. ‘Diemque:’ beside the grove, they established an annual feast in his honour.
[602] Aliquando i. q. “quondam,” “olim:” see Freund, who quotes among other passages “cum venissem in socrus meae villam Alsiensem, quae aliquando Rufi Virginii fuit,” Pliny Ep. 6. 10. ‘Primi’ need not be pressed, as it may only mean in old days.
[603] Tuta probably with ‘locis,’ sheltered in point of position, nearly i. q. “tutis locis.” Serv. asks how the camp can be called sheltered if it was commanded by the hills, as appears from what follows. Wagn. answers that it was protected by the river and (presumably) by the nature of the country. Serv.'s own solution, that the ‘lata arva’ were a table-land at the top of the hill, is not very reconcilable with the context. Mr. Long thinks ‘tuta locis’ merely designates the camp as a fortified place.
[605] Tendebat 2. 29. Faber and others have conj. ‘ut’ for ‘et;’ but the connexion by the copulative is more simple and poetical.
[606] Bello, for battle: see on v. 547. ‘corpora curant’ G. 4. 187.
[608-625] ‘Venus brings the Vulcanian armour, which Aeneas views with admiration, especially the shield.’
