[522] Valles is a collateral form of ‘vallis’ (comp. “aedis” and “aedes,” “felis” and “feles,” “vulpis” and “vulpes”） recognized by Serv. and by Prob. Cathol. p. 1470 P, though there seems some doubt about the text of the latter, but found only here and 7. 565. ‘Vallis,’ the reading before Heins., is the original reading of one of Ribbeck's cursives. ‘Anfractus’ seems to mean a curve of any kind: see Forc., who quotes Varro L. L. 7. 15 Müller, where “in anfracto” is explained “in flexu.” Here accordingly we are to think of a winding glen. ‘Adcommodus’ is a rare word, perhaps confined to poetry.
[523] Densis &c., nearly repeated from 7. 565.
[524] Qua, the reading before Heins., is mentioned as a variant by Serv., but found in none of Ribbeck's MSS. In any case Virg. would seem to be speaking of the valley itself rather than of the road to it; but the two are easily identified.
[525] Maligni i. q. “angusti:” see instances in Forc. Comp. the use of “iniquus” of space. Serv. interprets it “obscuri,” from a misunderstanding of 6. 270.
[526] There is a table-land at the top of the hills on each side (‘dextra laevaque’ v. 528) overlooking the valley. ‘Specula’ of the top of a mountain E. 8. 60 note. Perhaps the plural indicates the two hills between which the valley runs. For ‘in,’ which Rom. omits, Pal. and originally Gud. give ‘e.’
[527] Ignota because unseen, owing to the formation of the ground. ‘Receptus’ Pal., Med. originally, and three of Ribbeck's cursives, including Gud., where the word originally was ‘receptis,’ ‘recessus’ Rom., Med. corrected. Serv. reads ‘receptus,’ mentioning, according to some copies of his commentary, ‘recessus’ as an inferior variant, though the Dresden MS., as cited by Wagn., seems to reverse the readings. Wagn. restored ‘recessus’ as the more appropriate word, ‘receptus’ meaning a place of refuge and rallying for an army, not a retreat in general: and on the whole it seems safest to follow him as against Ribbeck, in spite of the preponderance of MS. authority, as Virg. is hardly likely to have used a technical military term in an improper sense when an unobjectionable word was ready to his hands. The words are repeatedly confounded in MSS. (see Forc.), so that external considerations are of less value.
[528] The meaning seems to be that if you choose to give battle to an advancing enemy, you can do so with advantage on the table-ground on the top of these heights.
[529] Instare iugis is simply to stand on the heights, as Wagn. takes it, as if Virg. had written “sive velis, instans iugis, volvere saxa.” ‘Volvere saxa’ of rolling heavy stones from above 9. 512.
[530] Nota regione viarum 2. 737 note.
[531] Arripuit 9. 13. ‘Iniquis,’ referring to the narrow pass, as in 5. 203. ‘Insidere’ is a military term for occupying a place (see Forc.), though it generally has an acc.
[532-596] ‘Diana tells Opis, one of her nymphs, the history of Camilla, who had been brought up by her father, the exiled tyrant of Privernum, in the woods, and had led the life of a virgin huntress; bidding Opis to keep her eye upon her, and avenge her if she should fall.’
