A. & S. 260. II. Bactra; the capital of Bactria, the northern part
of the Persian empire, put for the country. —139. Que; disjunctive.
See on v. 87. Panchaia; the happy island of Euhemerus, here put
for Arabia, near which his fancy placed it. -140-142. The allusion
in these lines is to the story of Jason ploughing the field with the
fire-breathing bulls of Aeetes, king of Colchis, and sowing it with
dragon's teeth, whence warriors in armor sprung up. The idea con-
veyed is, Italy is not inferior to Colchis in fertility, and she is, at the
same time, free from those monsters which afflicted that country.
141. Satis. Gr. 580. A. & S. 274, R. 5 (a). Dentibus. Gr. 384.
A. & S. 223.
Con. prefers to take it as an abl. abs., and to regard
the passage as a case of hysteron-proteron. -143. Massicus; a
mountain in Campania, celebrated for its excellent wine. Here an
adjective. 144. Implevere. See on I. 49. Laeta prolific.
145. Campo. Gr. 379. 5. A. & S. 225. IV. R. 2.-146. Cli-
tumne; a river of Umbria, flowing into the Tiber, whose waters
were supposed to have a powerfully purifying effect, so that the flocks
became white, either, according to Pliny, from drinking of it, or, ac-
cording to Virgil, from bathing in it. Maxima; as being the largest
victim, or as being offered on the occasion of a triumph. — 147. Sa-
cro. The god Clitumnus had a temple at the head of the stream. —
148. Duxere. White bulls from this locality were sacrificed at the
celebration of triumphs; and as the victims were led before the tri-
umphal car, they are here represented as heading the procession.
See on I. 217. 149. Alienis mensibus = in months not belong-
ing (to it); i. e. in the winter months. Ver and aestas are used here
somewhat loosely. -150. Pomis. Gr. 414 and 2. A. & S. 247
and I. It may be a dat.
= pomis creandis. — 151. Saeva leonum
semina; i. e. saevi leones. -152. Nec legentes; i. e. they do
not, when collecting plants for food, by mistake gather aconite, and
thus poison themselves. Virgil probably uses aconita here for poison-
ous plants in general; for Dioscorides expressly says that aconite
grew abundantly in Italy. Legentes is the subst.-153. Tanto
... tractu = with so vast a train; sc. quanto in aliis terris. —155.
Operumque laborem and laborious works, mighty works.
156. Manu implies bor, personal exertion. Praeruptis
saxis. Such was the site of many of the ancient Italian towns.
Gr. 422. I. A. & S. 254, R. 3. — 157. Antiquos muros; i. e.
the ancient towns built on the banks of streams. There seems to be
a special reference to the usefulness of the rivers. — 158. Mare...
supra... infra; i. e. mare superum, or the Adriatic, and mare infe-
rum, or the Tyrrhenian sea. Alluit; sc. Italiam. —159. Anne;
pleonastic for an. Lari; a lake in Gallia Cisalpina, now Lake Como.
Gr. 45. 5. 2). A. & S. 52. Maxime. Larius is not so large as

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marino =

Verbanus, now Lake Maggiore.-160. Fluctibus heaving with the waves and the roar of ocean. Marino belongs to both nouns. Benace. See on E. VII. 13.-161. Portus Avernis. The Avernus and the Lucrinus were two small landlocked pools on the Campanian coast between Misenum and Puteoli. M. Vipsanius Agrippa, during his consulship in B. C. 37, united them, faced the mound which separated the Lucrinus from the sea with masonry (to which claustra refers), and pierced it with a channel for the admission of vessels. To this double haven he gave the name of Julius in honor of his patron Caesar Octavianus. -162. Indignatum expressing its indignation; i. e. at being excluded. — 163. Refuso = beaten back. -164. Fretis... Avernis = the channel of Avernus; i. e. between the two lakes, of which Avernus was the more inland. 165. Haec; sc. Italia. Rivos; implying abundance. Con. says, stream-like threads. Aeris metalla; i. e. aes. Keightley translates metalla "mines."-166. Ostendit... fluxit. Pliny says that the senate forbade the working of the mines in Italy; and these perfects may possibly refer to this discontinuance of the working, though they need only mean "it has been known to display," etc. Venis. Gr. 422. I. A. & S. 254, R. 3. Fluxit = has abounded in. 167. Marsos; a warlike and hardy race, dwelling northeast of Latium. Pubem Sabellam; i. e. the Samnites.

-168. Malo = to hardship. The Ligures occupied the rocky and barren country along what is now the Gulf of Genoa. Volscos; a very ancient people of Latium. -169. All these heroes saved Rome in extreme peril, the Decii from the Latins, Marius from the Cimbri, Camillus from the Gauls, the Scipios from Carthage; and so Octavianus saves her from her enemies in the East. -170. Duros bello inured to war. Gr. 391. A. & S. 222. 3. -172. Imbellem; merely an epithet of national contempt for the vanquished. Romanis arcibus; Rome itself, "that sat on her seven hills."-173. Saturnia tellus. See on E. IV. 6. — 174. Magna; sc. parens. Tibi = in honor of thee: the emphatic word. Res subject. Artis; the art of agriculture. Cf. I. 122, primus - agros. 175. Sanctos . . . fontes; alluding to the fountains sacred to the Muses, from which poets were said derive their inspiration. Ausus recludere; because he was the first Roman who ventured to write a treatise on agriculture in verse. -176. Ascraeum. . . carmen. Hesiod of Ascra in Boeotia wrote a poem on agriculture entitled Works and Days. Hence Virgil styles his agricultural poem an Ascraeum carmen.

177. Dicendum est is to be supplied. Robora vires. Cf. I. 86. -178. Natura. See on v. 49.-179. Difficiles... maligni = churlish... niggardly. Both are metaphorical. Difficiles, opp. to

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facilis in v. 223. —180. Tenuis = lean, hungry. Arvis; sc. sunt. Gr. 387. A. & S. 226. — 181. Palladia. See on I. 18. — 182. Indicio. Gr. 390. I. and 2. A. & S. 227, R. 2 and 3. Oleaster. The presence of the wild olive shows that the soil is good for the cultivated. 183. Plurimus. See on E. VII. 60. Baccis; sc. oleastri. — 184. Uligine; i. e. the natural moisture of the earth. Gr. 414 and 2. A. & S. 247 and 1.-185. Quique and the following quique, in v. 188, form an apposition to v. 184. — 188. Felicem = fcrtilizing. Qui- austro = and that which rises to the south. Gr. 379. 5. A. & S. 225. IV. R. 2. — 189. Aratris. Gr. 388. II. A. & S. 225, II. 190. Fluentes. Cf. on v. 100.-191. Fertilis; sc. erit. Uvae. Gr. 399 and 2. 2). A. & S. 213. — 192. Pateris et auro pateris aureis. Gr. 704. II. 2; 422. 2. A. & S. 323. 2 (3); 255, R. 3 (6).—193. Inflavit - Tyrrhenus. The custom of employing pipes at sacrifices was Greek as well as Roman; but as pipers appear to have existed at Rome from the earliest times, it is sufficiently probable that, like actors, they were imported from Etruria. Pinguis; from good-living at the altar. Ebur- ivory pipe. - 194. Pandis curved, hollow. Fumantia = reeking; i. e. from the natural heat of the exta. Reddimus = we offer. — 195. Tueri = to keep. See on tegere, I. 213. —196. Urentes. The goat was held, either by its bite, or by something poisonous in its saliva, to kill crops and trees, especially vines and olives. Culta plantations. - 197. Saturi = rich. Longinqua; sc. arva. —198. Amisit Mantua; i. e. in the assignment of lands mentioned in E. I. and IX. — 199. Herboso flumine; i. e. the Mincius. Cycnos. See on E. IX. 29. 200. Deerunt. Gr. 669. II. 2. A. & S. 306. 1 and R. 1 (1). — 203. Fere for the most part, generally speaking. It goes with optima frumentis. 204. Namque arando; i. e. this loose, crumbling state of the soil is what we seek to effect by ploughing. 205. Aequore. See on I. 50. — 206. Juvencis might perhaps be taken as an abl. of the agent, construing decedere as a neuter passive; but it is better to take it as an abl. of manner or circumstance. - 207. Ground lately cleared is another kind of soil which is good for corn. Aut refers grammatically either to the sentence nigra fere, etc., or to non ullo ex aequore, etc., the sense being the same either way. In the one case we supply optima frumentis, in the other quam ex illo aequore unde, etc. Iratus; i. e. at the wood cumbering the ground. Devexit has carted away. Devexit... evertit... (et) eruit; a hysteron-proteron. Gr. 704. IV. 2. A. & S. 323. 4 (2). 210, 211. Petiere... enituit. For the tense, see on I. 49. Cf. nitentia culta, I. 153.213. Casia; an aromatic shrub, with leaves like the olive. Rorem = rosemary. 214. Tofus tufa; a sort of volcanic sandstone. -215. Chelydris; a venomous snake of amphib

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ious nature. The ancients supposed that serpents ate clay. - 215. Creta. See on I. 179. Negant alios declare that no other. A personification. Aeque; sc. ac ipsi (i. e. tofus et creta) ferunt. It goes with praebere as well as with ferre. The meaning is that the presence of tufa and clay is a sign that snakes haunt the place. - 216. Curvas relates to the shape of the snake. — 217. Fumos=steam, vapor; the same as nebulam. —218. Ipsa. Gr. 452 and 1. A. & S. 207, R. 28 (a). Ex se ipsa remittit may refer to exhalations, like the preceding verse, or to exudations. -219. Viridis is to be taken closely with vestit, as if it had been viridem. The common reading is viridi. — 220. Scabie; the effect of the robigo. Cf. scabra robigine, I. 495. Salsa; because the same saitness which would rust iron would be unfavorable to produce. See vv. 237 foll. - 223. Facilem pecori = well-natured, favorable to cattle. See on difficiles, v. 179. Vomeris. Gr. 399 and 2. 1). A. & S. 213 and R. 1 (2). 224. Capua; the chief town of Campania. Vesevo; the same as Vesuvius. It is properly an adjective. — 225. Vacuis = thinly peopled. Clanius; a small river of Campania, which frequently overflowed its banks and did much mischief (hence non aequus) to the territory of Acerrae, a town in the neighborhood. It is here put for the people of the country through which it flowed. — 226. Quamque; sc. terram. -227. Supra morem = unusually. Si; with requires.-228. Altera Lyaeo; parenthetical. — 229. Magis belongs to densa, answering to rarissima quaeque. Densa... rara close... loose. Quaeque. Gr. 458. 1. A. & S. 207. R. 35 (6). -229. Lyaeo is here vino. See on Ov. M. XI. 67. - 230. Ante first. Ante oculis is explained by in solido, which gives the reason for the choice. 232. Summas ... arenas the topmost portion of the soil.-233. Si deerunt; i. e. if the earth does not fill the hole. Gr. 669. II. and 2. A. & S. 306. 1 and (1). — 234. Uber is a laudatory synonyme for solum. Negabunt; sc. arenae. See on v. 215. - 235. Scrobibus; here used for puteus. The plu ral for the singular. Superabit shall be in excess. - 236. Cunctantes stubborn. Crassa terga stiff ridges. 237. Proscinde. See on I. 97. —239. Frugibus. Gr. 391. A. & S. 222. 3. Infelix: = infecunda. Arando aratione. 240. Nec servat; i. e. the grape and the apple degenerate in such a soil. Nomina; name for character. Sua. Gr. 449. 2. A. & S. 208 (7) (a). — 241. Tale ... specimen the following proof. Spisso vimine = of thickly woven osiers. Gr. 428. A. & S. 211, R. 6. Qualos appears to be the same thing as the cola, which is added merely for the purpose of explanation. 242. Fumosis... tectis; where they had been hung after the vintage was over to preserve them from dampness and worms. - 243. Ager. The whole ager is

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virtually the subject of the experiment. — 244. Ad plenum the full; i. e. to the brim. 245. Scilicet you will see, of course; denoting the consequence of the process. -246. At autem. Manifestus. Gr. 443. A. & S. 205, R. 15 (a). — 247. Tristia is proleptic. — 248. Denique briefly, to be brief. It belongs to hoc pacto.· -249. Jactata; i. e. worked. 250. Lentescit sticks. Habendo in handling. Used passively, like arando, v. 239. — 251. Majores; i. e. than usual. Ipsa; i. e. without manure or irrigation. See on E. IV. 21, 23. Justo laetior too productive. Gr. 417. A. & S. 256. 2. - 252. Nimium be longs to fertilis. Mihi. Gr. 387. A. & S. 226. - 253. Primis... aristis in its first crop; i. e. when first under tillage, implying that it will fall off. - 254. Tacitam; i. e. tacite, without further experiment. 255. Oculis. Gr. 414 and 4. A. & S. 247 and 3. Praediscere; i. e. before cultivation. — 256. Cui = cuique. Frigus; i. e. in the soil. 257. Piceae; the common fir. Taxi nocentes. Cf. v. 113 and E. IX. 30. 258. Pandunt vestigia = reveal traces; i. e. of the cold. — 259. Multo. Gr. 418. A. & S. 256, R. 16. Ante; with quam. — 260. Excoquere to bake; i. e. by exposing it to the sun and weather. Magnos... montes; a strong, perhaps an exaggerated expression. See on v. 37. Concidere to cut up thoroughly. The lesson to be enforced is that of hard and thorough work. Cf. I. 65, 66, a passage which is animated by the same enthusiasm. 261. Ante. The repetition is emphatic. 263. Solo. Gr. 428. A. & S. 211, R. 6. Id...carant bring this about; i. e. ut putri solo sint. - 264. Labefacta loosened; proleptic. - 265. Si fugit; i. e. those who are very particular. -266. Ante. See on v. 230. is in apposition alternately, as it were, with each of the two clauses that follow, ubi · seges and quo feratur; i. e. a like spot for the nursery, and a like spot for the vineyard, the two being reciprocally compared. Prima = primum, at first; opp. to mox. Paretur. Gr. 485; 486. III. A. & S. 260. II. —267. Arboribus. See on v. 89. Seges the vine-crop. Digesta feratur = feratur et digeratur. 268. Subito; with mutatam. Semina

Locum similem

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the young vines. So v. 302. Matrem; i. e. the earth. 269. Quin etiam even. Coeli regionem; referring to the points of the compass. 270. Quo modo... qua parte modum quo. partem qua. These clauses and the one following are the objects of restituant. 271. Quae terga the side which, as a back. Axi= the north pole.-272. Adeo - est so powerful are habits formed in tender age; in teneris having the force of in teneris annis.—275. In denso in loco denso consito. In denso ubere could scarcely mean anything but a close or stiff soil. Non ubere not less prolific (than when

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