= Proscindo is the technical term for the first ploughing. On aequore, see on v. 50. Gr. 430; 431. 2. A. & S. 257 and N. 1. Terga the sods, ridges; i. e. those made by the proscissio, or first ploughing. -98. Rursus — aratro with turned plough again breaks through (the ridges, terga) cross-wise. This cross-ploughing took place in the summer or early autumn, five or six months after the proscissio. — 99. Frequens. Gr. 443. A. & S. 205, R. 15 (a). Imperat; i. e. acts like a master, makes his land obey him. — 100. Solstitia=aestates. Cf. E. VII. 47. Here begins a new division of the subject. See introductory Analysis. - 101. Laetissima. See on v. I. Pulvere. Gr. 414. A. & S. 247. I (1). Farra. See on v. 73.-102. Nullo —messes; i. e. as in a dry winter. Mysia; a most fertile region of Asia Minor, on the Hellespont, at the foot of the range (Ida) of which Mount Gargarus was the most conspicuous point. 'Cultu. Gr. 414. A. & S. 247. I (2). — 104. Ipsa; i. e. not only is it celebrated by all others, but is even itself astonished at its own fertility. Gargara. Gr. 141. A. & S. 92. 1. — 104. Quid dicam; sc. de eo: a form of enumeration, introducing a subject which is to be treated only cursorily before hastening to another topic. It here implies commendation. Comminus = in close contest; i. e. as soon as the seed is sown, attacking and levelling with the hand or rake the ridges (cumulos) of sand. The metaphor is from a soldier throwing his lance, and then coming to close quarters sword in hand. Some make comminus=immediately, without delay. — 105. Insequitur pursues; implying persevering assiduity. Ruit levels; here used transitively. Cf. A. I. 35, 85. Male pinguis = non pinguis ; i. e. barren, unfertile. 106. Satis == = into the sown fields. Gr. 386. A. & S. 224. Sequentes; because they follow whithersoever they are led. 107. Morientibus - herbis = with its dying herbage is in a glow. Herbis; not the grass, but blades of corn. Gr. 430. A. & S. 257. It would seem from vv. 106, 108 that the poet wished to indicate two modes of irrigating; the one, for fields in a level country, where by means of a dam the water of a stream is brought in over them; the other, for fields on a declivity, where the water is brought down on them from the springs near the summit. 108. Ecce, at once giving the picture and expressing the unexpected relief to the soil. Supercilio. Gr. 425. 2 and 3. 4) A. & S. 251. Clivosi tramitis of its pathway down the hill; i. e. from the brow of the hill, when used for irrigation. 109. Lēvia, not lěvia; implying that the path, or channel, has been often thus used.-110. Ciet wakes. Scatebris= with its bubbling rills. Temperat = tempers, cools, refreshes. 111. Quid; sc. dicam de eo. See v. 104. Aristis. Gr. 414 and 2. A. & S. 247. I (2). —113. Quum―sata = as soon as the crops render the furrows level; i. e. as soon as the corn in the furrows is = = - - = = as high as that on the ridges between the furrows. Quique; sc. quid dicam de eo. Paludis=of the pool; i. e. of the stagnant water in the furrows. —114. Arena. Gr. 414 and 4. A. & S. 247 and 3. Referring either to ditches leading to a sandy place, where the water is absorbed, or to drains half filled with small stones or gravel, which take up the water as it passes along.-115. Incertis mensibus; the months when the weather is most changeable; i. e. the spring and autumn; here the spring. Gr. 426. A. & S. 253. — 116. Exit; i. e. from its bed or banks. Cf. A. II. 496. Et-limo = and overspreads all things far and wide with a coating of mud. Gr. 430; 431 and 2. A. & S. 257 and N. 1. - 117. Unde-lacunae; i. e. if the water is not drawn off before the sun begins to act on it, it might rot the plants. Sudant; as the water would be drawn up by the heat of the sun. Lacunae ; i. e. the furrows, the spaces between the ridges. -118. Nec ... nihil somewhat, in some degree. Gr. 585. A. & S. 277, R. 3. Quum although. Haec... sint... experti=have tried these (expedients). — 119. Versando; like vertere, v. 2, with a further notion of frequency. Gr. 566. 3. A. & S. 275. III. R. 4, N. 2, last sentence. Improbus = greedy, destructive.—120. Strymoniae; because cranes abounded about the river Strymon in Thrace. Intuba=succory. It would be injurious both directly as a weed, and indirectly as attracting geese, which are fond of it. -121. Umbra; i. e. of trees and useless plants. Pater; Jupiter, who was king during the silver age, in which toil began, as Saturn had been in the golden. See on E. IV. 5 and 18 foll. — 122. Haud. Gr. 584. 3. A. & S. 191, R. 3. Primus; sc. illorum, qui mundum rexerunt. -123. Movit= fecit moveri, arari: as a man is said to do the thing that he causes to be done. Mortalia corda = the intellects of men. The heart was frequently spoken of as the seat of thought and emotion. Acuens; as we speak of sharpening the intellect. — 124. Passus; sc. est. Sua regna; i. e. mankind over whom he ruled. 125. Ante Jovem; i. e. ante Jovis regnum; i. e. in the golden age. —126. Ne... quidem. Gr. 602. III. 2. A. & S. 191, R. 3 (a). Signare; sc. limite. Gr. 549 and 1. A. & S. 269 and R. 2. — 127. In — quaerebant = they made acquisitions for the use of all; i. e. what they acquired they put into a common stock. Ipsa. See on E. IV. 21; 23. — 128. Liberius; i. e. than now. It seems to include both generosity and freedom from external constraint. Nullo poscente; i. e. nullo cogente, is the cause of the liberius. Cf. E. IV. 18. —129. Virus. Gr. 47. II. A. & S. 51. Atris= deadly. It is a common epithet of serpents, and sometimes it is not easy to say whether it has its primitive sense of "black," or its derivative meaning of "deadly," though it may include both. Cf. E. IV. 24. – 130. Lupos. Gr. 375. A. & S. 239. Wolves are used here for = beasts of prey in general. Moveri=to swell, to be agitated. -131. Mella - foliis; i. e. so that men could no longer obtain it from that source. See on E. IV. 30. Ignemque removit; i. e. hid it in the veins of the flint, so that ingenuity was required to force it out. 132. Passim; with currentia. Rivis. Gr. 414 and 3. A. & S. 247. 2.-133. Usus - need, necessity. It is virtually personified; whence meditando, which is by reflection, study. -134. Et. We might have expected ut for et here, and et for ut (which is given by some MSS.) in the next line: Virgil, however, has chosen to vary the expression, coupling a particular fact with a general, and then subjoining a second particular, as a co-ordinate clause with the two. Sulcis, i. e. by ploughing. Gr. 414 and 4. A. & S. 247. 3. Frumenti... herbam. See on E. V. 26. — 135. Venis. Gr. 425. 2. 2). A. & S. 251. Abstrusum that lay concealed (in them); lit. thrust away (by Jupiter). Cf. A. VI. 6. Excuderet. Cf. A. I. 174. -136. Navigation then began, canoes being made by hollowing out trees. Cf. Ov. M. I. 94, 95 and notes. Sensere felt the weight of. —137. Navita tum. The further progress of navigation. Stellis fecit: = numbered the stars and gave them their names; i. e. they divided them into constellations. Facere nomen alicui is a phrase to which numeros is here added by a kind of zeugma. Cf. Psalms, cxlvii. 4. — 138. Pleiadas; seven stars in the neck of Taurus, called also Vergiliae, "quia vere oriantur." Cf. Hor. C. IV. 14. 21. They thus marked the beginning of the sailing season. The name is derived from λéew, to sail. The word is here a tetrasyllable. Gr. 363. A. & S. 204. For the lengthening of the final syllable, see Gr. 669. V. A. & S. 309. 2 (1). - Hyadas. See on Ov. M. III. 595. The name is derived from vew, to rain. — Lycaonis. Gr. 397. 1. A. & S. 211, R. 7 (1). — Arcton. See on Ov. M. II. 129, 171. Callisto, there mentioned, was a daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia. —139. Captare...fallere. Gr. 549. A. & S. 269. — Fallere; sc. aves, implied in the preceding feras. — 140. Inventum; sc. est. - Saltus forest-pastures; i. e. the glades or open spaces in forests, where cattle pastured and wild beasts wandered. They were hedged round in hunting by nets and watchers, to prevent the animals from breaking out. 141. Fishing was also invented. Funda with the casting-net. It was pear-shaped or conical, and was loaded with lead to make it sink. It was thrown forcibly into the water; hence the verb verberat = = lashes. The English phrase, “whip the stream," is similar. —142. Alta petens seeking the deep parts; i. e. of the river. Pelago. Gr. 422. I. 2); 47, II. A. & S. 254, -- drag-net, seine. 143. Ferri rigor = ferrum rigidum; sc. venit (= provenit, inventus est), from v. 145; alluding to the hardening of iron for the manu 66 = facturing of tools. The inversion of syntax, whereby the adjective idea is expressed by a noun of kindred meaning, is very common in all languages, and is frequently used by the poets with great effect; as, the might of Gabriel" (Milton); i. e. the mighty Gabriel. Atque and particularly; giving a single instance of the implements that were then invented. This is a frequent practice with our poet. Serrae. The invention of the saw was attributed by some to Daedalus, by others to Perdix, his nephew. See on Ov. M. VIII. Introd. 144. Primi; sc. homines. -146. Improbus - exacting, excessive. Some critics make it = persevering. See on Hor. C. III. 24. 62. Egestas want; especially of food. This leads the poet back to his subject. -147. Prima Ceres. The connection is as follows: Before the time of Jupiter there was no tillage (v. 125); but under his reign various arts were invented, and especially that of agriculture, by Ceres. See on v. 7. — 148. Glandes. See on v. 8. Sacrae is explained by Dodona. See on Chaonias, E. IX. 13. 149. Deficerent = began to fail. Silvae is the genitive limiting glandes and arbuta; though some make it the subject of deficerent. Dodona, famous for its oak groves, is used poetically for the oaks themselves. -150. Et even; to be construed with frumentis. Labor injury, trouble, plagues. As examples of labor used of the sufferings of things inanimate, see v. 79, and II. 343, 372. Additus (sc. est); i. e. by Jupiter. Mala baleful, destructive. Cf. v. 129. — 151. Esset. Gr. 291; 492. A. & S. 181; 262. — Robigo = blight, mildew. To avert it the Romans worshipped a deity named Robigus, or Robigo, whom they propitiated by a festival called Robigalia. Segnis unfruitful, worthless. -152. Subit = comes up (in its stead). Silva. See on v. 76. It is explained by the two following nouns. -154. Infelix ... avenae. See on E. V. 37. 155. Quod nisi. See on E. IX. 14. Assiduis = assidue. Gr. 443. A. & S. 205, R. 15 (a). Herbam. See on v. 69. - 157. Umbram; i. e. the trees and foliage that make the shade. Votis. Vows were paid to Jupiter Pluvius. — 158. Acervum. Cf. v. 185. — 159. Concussa... quercu by shaking the oak; i. e. for acorns. -160. Dicendum; sc. est mihi. Et etiam. Arma ments, utensils, tools. Cf. A. 177.- 161. Quis 1; 602. II. 1. A. & S. 136, R. 2; 279. 10 (a) and (ƒ). Nec potuere = have never been able. For the perfect, see on v. 49. —162. Inflexi is explained by vv. 169, 170.- Primum is often used in the beginning of an enumeration without a following deinde or tum, the office of which, however, is often performed by vero, etiam, autem, etc. Grave robur = the ponderous and strong; lit. the ponderous strength: robur aratri for robustum aratrum, like ferri rigor, v. 143, and aeternaque ferri Robora, A. VII. 609.—163. Tarda = tarde; - = = sine. impleGr. 187. = = qualifying volventia. See on assiduis, v. 155. Eleusinae matris; i. e. of Demeter or Ceres, who was chiefly worshipped at Eleusis in Attica. She is called mater, probably in allusion to her name, Demeter, i. e. Mother Earth. 164. Tribula, traheae; two kinds of threshing-sledge; the former of which consisted of a thick wooden board, which was armed underneath with pieces of iron or sharp flints, and drawn over the corn by a yoke of oxen, either the driver or a heavy weight being placed upon it, for the purpose of separating the grain and cutting the straw; the latter, a kind of drag, sometimes used, was probably either entirely of stone or made of the trunk of a tree. Iniquo immoderate, very great. Pondere. Gr. 428. A. & S. 211, R. 6. Rastri. See on v. 94. — 165. Virgea... supellex seems to include baskets, colanders, &c., as well as the hurdles and the fan. Celei; the father of Triptolemus and Demophon, and the first priest of Ceres at Eleusis. She instructed him in agriculture and in the making of wicker-work implements. 166. Crates. See on v. 94. Vannus the winnowing-fan. This was a broad basket, into which the corn mixed with chaff was received after threshing, and was then thrown in the direction of the wind. It is called mystica, because at the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries it was carried in the processions in honor of Iacchus, the son of Demeter and Zeus, sometimes confounded with Bacchus (as in E. VII. 61), and sometimes distinguished from him. Bacchus was the son of Zeus and Semele. Ceres, Celeus, and Iacchus are here introduced to give a religious dignity to what might otherwise seem trivial. 167. Multo. Gr. 418 and 1. A. & S. 256, R. 16 (3). Ante; i. e. before they are needed. Memor provisa carefully (mindfully) provided. Provisa repones = providebis et repones. Gr. 579. A. & S. 274. 3 (b).—168. Digna deserved, merited. Si manet; for si vis, ut te maneat. Divini ruris; either as the abode of the rural deities, or, at least, as pleasing to them. -169. Continuo in silvis in the very woods. Continuo is explained by in silvis. The words can only mean that the young elm while yet in the woods is bent and made to grow in the required shape, whatever may be thought of the possibility of the thing, which Keightley denies. - 170. Burim the plough-beam. Gr. 85. III. and 2. A. & S. 79. The buris was a piece of strong wood, naturally or artificially curved, to one end of which was affixed the pole, to the other the dentale, and into it was mortised the stiva. It therefore formed the body of the plough. Curvi.. aratri. As the buris gave the characteristic bend to the plough, it is here called by the plough's name, aratri. —171. Huic; sc. buri. — Ab stirpe from the lower part; i. e. of the temo. Connect with protentus. Temo the pole. Sc. aptatur. It was part of the plough, as well as of the cart or car 2. = = |