[380] Fatis iniquis 2. 257., 3. 17.
[381] Vellit magno Pal. (corrected from ‘vellit magnu’) Rom., Gud., and three other of Ribbeck's cursives. ‘Magno vellit’ (Med.) is the more Virgilian order. “Saxa quoque infesto volvebant pondere” 9. 512.
[383] Dabat Med., Pal., and originally Gud. ‘Dedit’ Rom., Gud. corrected and also in the margin; and two or three of Ribbeck's cursives. ‘Where the spine made the division between the ribs.’ Comp. Ciris 498, “qua se medium capitis discrimen agebat.” The imperf. seems to denote continuance. “Dare discrimina” in different shades of meaning below vv. 393, 529. For the lengthening of the last syllable of ‘dabat’ see Excursus to Book 12. ‘Per medium’ explains the way in which the spine parts the ribs.
[384] While Pallas is stooping to pull out the spear from Lagus' back, Hisbo tries, but unsuccessfully, to surprise him from above (‘super occupare’). Wagn. prefers the first and less natural explanation suggested by Heyne, which makes ‘super’ = “super hoc” or meanwhile. ‘Occupat’ G. 4. 440. Med. has ‘occubat.’
[385] “Ille quidem hoc cupiens” 9. 796: see on v. 274 above. ‘Ante’ (adv.) goes with ‘excipit’ v. 387. ‘Ruentem’ as be hurries up.
[386] Incautum with ‘crudeli morte:’ made wild by the death of his friend. “Excipit incautum” 3. 332. For ‘excipere’ in the sense of ‘to catch,’ E. 3. 18 note.
[387] πάγη δ᾽ ἐν πνεύμονι χαλκός Il. 4. 528. “Fixo ferrum in pulmone tepescit” 9. 701. ‘Tumido’ distended, as he was angry and excited (comp. “iaculum clamantis sistit in ore” v. 323 above).
[388, 389] Sthenium Med. and Pal. ‘Sthenlum’ Rom. ‘Sthenelum’ some inferior copies. The MSS. are bad guides in the matter of proper names, but as ‘Sthenius’ is a possible name, it seems best to adopt ‘Sthenium’ with Ribbeck. “Rhoetus . . . . Marrubiorum rex fuerat in Italia, qui Anchemolo filio Casperiam superduxit novercam: hanc privignus stupravit. Qua re cognita cum eum pater insequeretur, et ad poenam vocaret, fugiens se ille contulit ad Daunum. Merito ergo in bello Turni Dauni filio Anchemolus gratiam reddit. Gente autem vetusta, ideo quia a Phorco Deo marino originem ducere legitur” Serv., who says that he takes his account from Avienus and Alexander Polyhistor. “Ut forte rogatus . . . . dicat Nutricem Anchisae, nomen patriamque novercae Anchemoli” Juv. 7. 232. “Priami de gente vetusta” 9. 284.
[390] Arvis Med., Rom., and two of Ribbeck's cursives: ‘agris’ Pal. and Gud., which gives ‘arvis’ as a variant. ‘Agris’ Ribbeck, apparently because ‘Rutulorum arva’ recurs v. 404 below.
[391] Daucia . . . simillima proles: the use of two epithets, one of which stands for the genitive of a noun, is in the manner of Lucretius: see Munro on Lucr. 1. 258. Wagn. on A. 5. 24 gives instances from Virg. Comp. “horrida acies Volcania” v. 408 below: “corpus exsangue Hectoreum” 2. 542.
[392] The sons of Daucus are so like each other that their parents cannot distinguish them. Comp. Claudian, de quarto Cons. Honorii 209, 210 (of Castor and Pollux) “iuvat ipse Tonantem Error, et ambiguae placet ignorantia matri” (quoted by Cerda among other imitations of this passage). Serv. takes ‘suis’ by itself: it is better to take it with ‘parentibus.’
[393] Comp. Lucan 3. 605 (Cerda) “discrevit mors saeva viros, unumque relictum Agnorunt miseri sublato errore parentes.”
[394] Euandrius ensis = the sword of Pallas, like “telis Euandri” v. 420 below. In lengthening the last syllable of ‘caput’ Virg. has extended to a substantive ending in ‘t’ a liberty which he usually only allows himself in the case of the third persons of verbs.
[395] Ovid gives a similar, but more elaborate and revolting description of Philomela's tongue (M. 6. 560). Homer is content with saying ἀπὸ δ᾽ ἔξεσε χεῖρα βαρεῖαν, Αἱματόεσσα δὲ χεὶρ πεδίῳ πέσε (Il. 5. 81). Comp. also Juv. 3. 48, already cited on v. 341.
[396] Virg. hardly improves upon Ennius (Ann. 463) “Oscitat in campis caput a cervice revolsum. Semianimesque micant oculi lucemque requirunt.” ‘Ferrum retractant,’ grasp the sword again and again. Virg. doubtless thought of the description of men losing their limbs in battle Lucr. 3.642 foll. With ‘micant digiti’ comp. the phrase “micare digitis.” “Ferrumque retractat” in a different sense 7. 694. So Virg. uses “diverberet umbras” in one sense 6. 294, “diverberat umbras” in another 9. 411; “moenia cingere flammis” in different senses 9. 160., 10. 119; “dare discrimina” 10. 393, 529; “dare ruinam” 2. 310., 12. 453; “securus amorum” 1. 350., 10. 326; “artificis scelus” 2. 125., 11. 407; “alta petens” G. 1. 142, A. 5. 508., 7. 362; “arma quiescunt” 10. 836., 12. 78; “per varios casus” 1. 204., 10. 352; “cuneis coactis” 7. 509., 12. 457; “se inmiscuit armis” G. 4. 245, A. 11. 815; “cessere magistri” G. 3. 549, A. 12. 717; “siccum sanguine guttur” 8. 261 differently from “siccae sanguine fauces” 9. 64; “alternos orbibus orbes Inpediunt” 5. 584 from “septenos orbibus orbes Inpediunt” 8. 448; “Aeneia hospitia” 10. 494 from “Iunonia hospitia” 1. 671.
[398] Dolor et pudor, αἰδῶ καὶ νέμεσιν, Il. 13. 122. ‘Furor’ Rom. for ‘pudor.’
