[66] Lacu alto, the deep of the river where he dwelt. We should naturally take it of the source (comp. v. 74 and see on G. 4. 364): but this cannot be intended here, being obviously inconsistent with the topography and with Aeneas' words in vv. 74, 5, which show that he does not know where the Tiber rises.
[67] Ima petens: comp. G. 4. 321, “quae gurgitis huius Ima tenes.” With ‘nox—reliquit’ comp. ἐμὲ δὲ γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἀνῆκεν Il. 2. 71, “τὴν δ᾽ ὕπνος ἅμα κλαγγῇ μεθέηκεν” Apoll. R. 3. 632. The meaning doubtless is that the dream, the night, and Aeneas' sleep, all came to an end together. Rom. and some others have ‘relinquit.’
[68] “Aetherius sol” is common in Lucr., 3. 1044., 5. 215 &c. “Lumina solis” Lucr. 1.5.
[70] Sustinet Med., Rom., Pal., Gud. originally. ‘Sustulit,’ the old reading, retained by Heyne, is found in Gud. corrected and two other of Ribbeck's cursives. Heyne explains ‘sustulit’ took it up to wash his hands before the prayer. ‘Sustinet’ Wagn. thinks must be interpreted with reference to some custom, not mentioned elsewhere, of holding some water from the river in the hands when praying to a river-god. ‘Undam de flumine’ he takes like “homo de plebe,” but this seems unnecessary: ‘sustinet’ includes “haurit” or “tollit.”
[71] There is some doubt about the pointing, as in G. 4. 321 “Mater, Cyrene mater:” but in each case the rhythm seems in favour of making the pause after the first foot. ‘Nymphae, genus amnibus unde est’ is i. q. “Nymphae fontium.” “Genus unde” 1. 6., 5. 123.
[72] Genitor i. q. “pater” as an epithet of reverence. Macrob. Sat. 6. 1, says the line is from Ennius (A. 1. fr. 37) “Teque pater Tiberine tuo cum flumine sancto.” See on G. 2. 147, and Munro on Lucr. 1.413., 4. 394. Aeneas' prayer strongly resembles that of Cocles to the Tiber, Livy 2. 10, “Tiberine pater, te sancte precor haec arma et hunc militem propitio flumine accipias.” Serv. quotes a form of prayer, “Adesto, Tiberine, cum tuis undis.”
[73] We may have either “arcere periculum ab aliquo,” “arcere periculum alicui,” or “arcere aliquem periculo.” The last construction is found in Cic. (see Forc.) and in Hor. 1 Ep. 8. 10. A similar construction of “prohibere” also occurs Hor. 1 Od. 27. 4, 1 Ep. 1. 31.
[74] Lacus is illustrated by Pliny Ep. 9. 8 (on the source of the Clitumnus): “Eluctatusque (fons) facit gurgitem, qui lato gremio patescit purus et vitreus.” Serv. says “Lacus est quoddam latentis adhuc aquae receptaculum, et dictus lacus quasi lacuna: ex qua erumpens aqua facit fontem: qui cum fluere coeperit alveum facit.” ‘Miserantem incommoda nostra’ gives the reason for Aeneas' prayer, serving also to remind the god of his promise: ‘pulcherrimus’ expresses Aeneas' gratitude.
[75] Rom. and fragm. Vat. have ‘tenent:’ but, as Wagn. says, ‘lacus’ in the plural does not accord with ‘fonte.’ “Flumine pulchro” of the Tiber 7. 430.
[76] Honore, i. q. “sacrificiis:” comp. 1. 632 &c. Some MSS. have ‘venerabere,’ which, as Wagn. remarks, cannot be defended from 3. 460, as deponent verbs are not equally elastic with their participles. ‘Venero’ seems not to be used later than Plautus.
[77] For ‘corniger’ see on G. 4. 371; for ‘Hesperidum regnator aquarum’ comp. G. 1. 482, “Fluviorum rex Eridanus.” The Eridanus deserves the epithet more for its physical, the Tiber for its historical greatness. Here again Virg. seems to have followed Ennius (A. 1. fr. 48), “Postquam consistit fluvius qui est omnibu' princeps,” quoted by Fronto Epist. de Orat. p. 129 Niebuhr in connexion with a saying of M. Aurelius, “Tiber amnis et dominus et fluentium circa regnator undarum.” Germ. comp. Dionys. Perieg. 351, Θύμβρις ἐϋρρείτης ποταμῶν βασιλεύτατος ἄλλων. ‘Fluvius’ may be nom. for voc.; but it is at least as probable that the line is to be taken closely with ‘celebrabere,’ the Tiber being celebrated as the king of rivers.
[78] Propius, i. q. “praesentius,” as in 1. 526: ‘adsis’ contains the same idea of the interposition or manifestation of the god by physical presence. Comp. 10. 254. ‘Numina,’ revelation: comp. 4. 123. The confirmation is given just below vv. 81 foll. The parallel use of “numen” and ‘omen’ has been mentioned on 7. 119. “Omina firma” occurs 2. 691, and Sil. 4. 127 comp. by Cerda has “Adsis o firmesque tuae, pater, alitis omen,” doubtless imitating the present line. Meller ap. Cerdam conj. ‘omina’ here. In another view we may comp. “Di numine firment” 12. 188. ‘Tandem’ for ‘tantum’ was read before Heins., and is found in some inferior MSS.
[79] See on 1. 182. ‘Geminas’ merely means two, as we should say a couple, as in 3. 305., 7. 450.
[80] See on 3. 471.
[81-101] ‘The white sow is seen and at once offered to Juno. They sail through the night on calm waters, and by midday reach Evander's city.’
