[249] Talibus Ilionei dictis, abl. of circumstance. Comp. v. 284, “Talibus donis—dictisque Latini,” and see 2. 336. ‘Defixa,’ κατὰ χθονὸς ὄμματα πήξας, Il. 3. 217. “Defixi ora tenebant” 8. 520. See on 2. 1. It seems best to take ‘obtutu’ adverbially, as equivalent to “obtutu in uno” 1. 499.
[250] Haeret: Latinus remained seated (vv. 169, 193), as Gossrau remarks; but Cerda may be right in supposing the picture to be taken from Ulysses in Il. 3. l. c. In that case ‘nec sceptra movent’ is an odd verbal coincidence with σκῆπτρον δ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ὀπίσω οὔτε προπρηνὲς ἐνώμα. Enn. A. 1. fr. 57., 3. fr. 4 seems to use “solum” in the sense of “solium:” but such a thing is not likely in Virg.
[251] “Volvens oculos” 12. 938, of Aeneas gazing on the fallen Turnus. Donatus notices the inconsistency between ‘intentos’ and ‘volvens,’ but does not solve it, merely observing that those who are in thought roll their eyes. Virg.'s meaning seems to be that the face is fixed on the ground, but the eyes move. ‘Regem’ significant after ‘purpura’ (“purpura regum” G. 2. 495, which, from the context, may have been in the poet's mind here): he is not moved by what would otherwise move a king.
[252] Picta, embroidered. ‘Sceptra Priameia:’ see on v. 1 above.
[253, 254] Moratur, is absorbed. “In solo Volscente moratur” 9. 439. ‘Non tantum movent—quantum moratur’ expresses that he is too much absorbed in the thoughts suggested by the speech of Ilioneus to look up at his gifts. The words ‘et—sortem’ are a part of the same thoughts, in which Latinus is buried and which prevent him from attending to the gifts: the editors are therefore wrong in placing a semicolon after ‘moratur.’ ‘Connubio:’ see on 1. 73. ‘Sortem,’ oracle, 4. 346. ‘Veteris:’ perhaps Virg. uses the epithet rather in relation to himself and to his readers than to Latinus. See also on v. 47 above.
[255] Hunc illum, “hunc esse illum quem fata portendant.” See note on v. 128. ‘Fatis’ with ‘portendi.’ ‘Ab sede profectum,’ above v. 209.
[256] Paribus auspiciis: to be his colleague in the kingdom: see on 4. 102. It may be observed that the idea of two kings would be represented to a Roman mind both by the joint reign of Romulus and Tatius, and by the image of a divided monarchy in the two consuls. Possibly here, though not in 4. 102, the reference may be to magistrates created by equal auspices, so that ‘auspiciis’ may go with ‘vocari.’ But to connect it with ‘regna’ seems better. ‘Vocari,’ by fate: see on 3. 185, where it is joined with “portendere,” and comp. 5. 656, “fatisque vocantia regna.”
[257] The Codex Oblongus and the Medicean of Pierius have ‘hinc,’ the reading before Heins., which is very plausible: comp. 1. 21. But all Ribbeck's MSS. give ‘huic.’
[258] Many MSS. (including one of Ribbeck's cursives) omit ‘et,’ and Heyne would have preferred to do so. Wagn. thinks that it gives the clause an adjectival force; but this would be given in either case by the subjunctive. “Totum sub leges mitteret orbem” 4. 231, of Aeneas and his descendants. ‘Occupet orbem viribus’ like “occupat os saxo” 10. 699, “flammis” 12. 300, “manicis iacentem occupat” G. 4. 440.
[259] Incepta, because he now makes the first step towards his great object. ‘Secundent,’ 3. 36.
[260] Augurium, the oracle of Faunus, perhaps also the omen of the appearance of the Trojans.
[261] Peerlkamp may be right in thinking that Latinus says ‘nec sperno’ apologetically, as he had not heeded the gifts. ‘Rege Latino’ like “te consule” E. 4. 11. Comp. “regem optatis Acesten” 1. 570.
[262] Instead of a pittance of ground on the seashore (vv. 229, 230) he will give them a rich domain. “Ubere glaebae” 1. 531. ‘Troiae opulentia’ refers to v. 217. Pal. corrected and Gud. have ‘Troiaeque.’
[263] Si tanta cupido est, 6. 133. ‘Tanta,’ as great as the words of Ilioneus and the presents sent imply.
[264] “Hospitio cum iungeret absens” 9. 361. ‘Sociusque vocari:’ comp. 11 105. Fragmm. Vat. and Verona, Rom. &. have ‘sociusve.’
[265] Voltus amicos: comp. Ov. M. 8.8. 677, “super omnia voltus Accessere boni nec iners pauperque voluntas,” Aesch. Cho. 671, δικαίων τ᾽ ὀμμάτων παρουσία. There is apparently some playfulness in ‘exhorrescat’ and in the next line.
[266] Pars pacis, a condition of, or essential to, our league. In Ov. M. 9. 291, “pars est meminisse doloris,” which Thiel. comp., ‘pars’ is not = “magna pars,” but means ‘some of the pain I felt then comes back as I recall the past.’ ‘Tyranni’ is of course a term of the republican and dramatic, not of the heroic and epic age. Aeneas cites his having come in person, instead of sending ambassadors, to Evander as a special mark of confidence 8. 143. ‘Dextram tetigisse,’ δεξιᾶς θιγεῖν.
[267] Contra, in reply, 1. 76.
[268] Serv. defends Latinus against objectors who thought it indelicate in the king to offer his daughter, alleging both the oracle and the manners of the heroic age (comp. with Heyne Alcinous Od. 6. 311 foll.); and Donatus has an amusing note: “Verecunda oblatio et adversus omnem exprobrationem munita: ne forte illud dici posset Terentianum (Andr. 1. 5. 15), ‘Aliquid monstri alunt, et quoniam nemini obtrudi potest, itur ad me.’”
[269] Non sinunt = “vetant.” Comp. οὐκ ἐᾶν. Three of Burm.'s MSS. have ‘patriae,’ which might be worth adopting, if the authority were better. ‘Caelo,’ in or from the sky.
[270] Generos plur. as in v. 98 above; comp. 8. 503.
[271] Hoc Latio restare = “hoc Latium manere.” ‘Such is the destiny of Latium.’ See 10. 29. Latinus partially repeats the words of the oracle, vv. 97—99. ‘Canunt,’ “sortes et monstra.” ‘Canunt’ is strictly applicable only to the former, but it is used in the general sense of predicting. The coming of Aeneas had been predicted by portents as well as by the oracle, v. 68.
[272] Hunc illum esse quem fata poscunt. See above v. 255.
[273] Comp. Soph. O. T. 1086, εἴπερ ἐγὼ μάντις εἰμὶ καὶ κατὰ γνώμαν ἴδρις. ‘Opto,’ I embrace its (fate's) award. Comp. “optavit locum regno” (3. 109), “externos optate duces” (8. 503), “non ego cuncta meis amplecti versibus opto” G. 2. 42, and Aesch. Ag. 1650 (according to the best reading), δεχομένοις λέγεις θανεῖν σε: τὴν τύχην δ᾽ αἱρούμεθα, in which δεχομένοις is the ordinary word for accepting an oracle or omen, and αἱρούμεθα involves a use of αἱρεῖσθαι very like this of ‘opto.’
[274] Numero, abl. with ‘eligit,’ from the whole number of horses, not, as Serv. suggests as an alternative, for the whole number of Trojans (v. 273). Thus it is explained by ‘tercentum.’ “Omni ex numero” 1. 170.
[275] Nitidi is perhaps to be explained in connexion with ‘praesepibus.’ Comp. G. 3. 214, “satura ad praesepia,” and Il. 6. 506, ὡς δ᾽ ὅτε τις στατὸς ἵππος ἀκοστήσας ἐπὶ φάτνῃ. ‘Praesepibus altis’ like “stabula alta” 9. 388. Latium has been indicated as a horse-breeding country v. 189. Comp. G. 2. 145.
[276] Omnibus, the hundred ambassadors, v. 154. ‘Ordine,’ successively, G. 4. 4. ‘Duci’ as in 8. 552, “ducunt exsortem (equum) Aeneae,” perhaps a mixture of leading the horses and taking the gifts (5. 385: see on 5. 534).
[277] Lucr. 6.765 has “alipedes cervi.” For this use of ‘alipes’ absolutely comp. “sonipes.” In 12. 484 ‘equi’ is expressed. ‘Ostro pictisque tapetis,’ embroidered purple housings. “Equus tuus speciosius instratus erit quam uxor vestita?” Livy 34. 7. From this line to v. 645 there is a gap in Pal.
[278] The ‘monile’ is not the same as “torquis,” but a necklace, that is, either a string of beads, circles, &c., or a band with drops. it is mentioned elsewhere as an ornament of horses. Dict. A. ‘Monile.’
[279] Auro, “tapetis auro pictis.” We have often purple (‘ostro’) embroidered with gold. ‘Fulvum,’ red, the epithet perhaps denoting the genuineness and richness of the metal (see on 2. 173), though it may be merely an imitation of antique simplicity. Comp. generally 4. 134, 135. Golden bits were perhaps not unusual among the Romans as ornaments of horses for purposes of luxury or state: Sen. Ep. 41. 6, “non faciunt meliorem equum aurei freni.”
[280] Iubet duci is repeated from v. 276. Vv. 278, 279, like v. 275, are parenthetical, like “Tyrii tenuere coloni” 1. 12. ‘Iugalis’ subst. Sil. 16. 400.
[281] Comp. the description (Il. 5. 265 foll.) of the horses of Aeneas, which Anchises had bred by stealth from descendants of those given to Tros by Zeus, Τῆς γενεῆς ἔκλεψεν ἄναξ ἀνδρῶν Ἀγχίσης Λάθρη Λαομέδοντος ὑποσχὼν θήλεας ἵππους.
[282] Patri the Sun. Hence the horses are ‘spirantes naribus ignem’, like the horses of Diomedes, Lucr. 5.29, from which the words are taken. Fragm. Vat. has ‘flagrantis.’ ‘Patri creavit,’ raised up to her father, as the owner of the horses. “Creare prolem alicui” is said of a woman bearing children to her husband (12, 271 &c.): here it is applied to Circe, as the real agent. ‘Daedalus,’ a favourite word with Lucr., applied by Ennius (inc. lib. 21) to Minerva.
[283] Furata is ἔκλεψεν, Il. l. c. In construction it is taken closely with ‘creavit’ i. q. “furtim creavit.” ‘Supposita de matre’ is a translation of ὑποσχὼν θήλεας ἵππους, ‘supposita’ being further intended to give, like ‘nothos,’ a notion of spuriousness, being the word applied to illegitimate children introduced into a family. Varro R. R. 2. 8 has “suppositicia,” apparently of a mare suckling an ass's foal. Observe the use of ‘pater’ and ‘mater’ here, not as correlatives, and comp. E. 8. 49.
[284] Comp. v. 249, though here ‘sublimes’ may have a notion of “superbi.”
[285] ‘In equis,’ 5. 554. “Arduus altis equis” v. 624 below. “Fidem reportant” 11. 211.
[286-322] ‘Juno observes the landing of the Trojans, compares her baffled efforts with the successes of other gods, and resolves to retard what she cannot wholly prevent, by stirring up war.’
