Asper, acerba sonans, quo tota exterrita silvis Roman name; but Virg. of course means no more than that they gave the thing a name in their own language. 149.] Asper, acerba tuens,' Lucr. 5. 34. In what follows Virg. had his eye on Od. 22. 299 foll. 150.] 'Furit mugitibus aether concussus' is probably an imitation of doctriVaкTоÇ αioηo paiveraι, Aesch. Theb. 155, which Wund. comp. The air is stunned and maddened with their bellowings, the air and the woodland and the banks of Tanager which runs dry in the sun.' 151.] 'Sicci' adds a touch to the picture, heightening as it were the misery of the cattle. 155.] Arcebis pecori' like 'pecori defendit,' E. 7. 47 (note). The future is virtually equivalent to an imperative. See 1. 167, where it is accompanied by a conditional clause. 156.] The stars are said to usher in the night, because they are seen before the night has closed in. 157-178.] After calving, you have to think mainly of the calves. Separate them according to the destination of each, and treat them with a view to it. Those which are not meant for labour may be left to graze; those which are should be trained early and practised to bear the yoke and 150 155 160 draw vehicles. Before they are broken in, they will want corn as well as ordinary fodder. Young calves should have all their mothers' milk.' 157.] Traducitur,' from the mothers, as before from the fathers. 158.] Notas et nomina,' a hendiadys, recurring A. 3. 444. 'Nomina gentis'. would naturally mean that the marks are intended to distinguish the breed; but we may doubt with Keightley whether such was really the practice. Perhaps Virgil confounds the breed with the property of the breeder, meaning no more than that the cattle are branded that it may be known whose they are. For branding see on 1. 263. 159.] A verb must be supplied from 'inurunt,' with the sense of distinguishing or setting apart. We need not suppose that they were actually branded according to the purposes for which they were designed. 'Pecori habendo,' 1. 3. 160.] The construction is changed, quos' being the object of 'servare,' the subject of 'scindere.' Varro (2.5) says of the finest cattle "ad victimas farciunt (?) atque ad deorum servant supplicia." 161.] Horrentem' doubtless expresses the rough appearance of the upturned ridges, elsewhere called 'terga,' just as it is applied to a hog's back A. 1. 634. 162.] Martyn appears right in referring this line to what follows, not to what precedes. Such cattle as were intended for breeding or for killing would be left to graze, as their only object would be to get fat; but those which were required for labour would have to be taken in hand. Heyne objects that the next line in that case Tu quos ad studium atque usum formabis agrestem, would have been more naturally introduced custom. 163.] Here and in the two following lines he borrows language from the education of youth. 166.] Similar precepts are given by Varro 1. 20, Col. 6. 2. No other instance is quoted of the form circlus,' but it is sufficiently supported by the analogy of 'vinclum,'' saeclum,' &c. Wakefield on Lucr. 6. 954 wished to read circos,' which has the authority of the Vat. a m. pr. and Julius Sabinus. The gradations of training here specified seem to be-1. accustoming the calf's neck to a collar; 2. teaching it to step together with another; 3. teaching two to draw a light weight; 4. a heavy one. 167.] Dehinc' dissyllable as in A. 5. 722, Hor. A. P. 144. 165 170 175 170.] Inanes rotae,' an empty cart, as the contrast in v. 172 shows. Varro and Col. give the same direction, the latter recommending that they should begin with a branch of a tree, to which a weight should next be attached. 171.] Vestigia' seem to be the ruts of the wheels. 172.] Translated from Il. 5. 838, μέya δ' ἔβραχε φήγινος ἄξων Βριθοσύνῃ. 173.] Iunctos,' to the pole, which was formerly plated with copper ('aereus '), afterwards with iron. 174.] Interea:' calves were not broken in before they were three years old, so Virgil probably means now to speak of their treatment previously, though the want of precision in his language leaves his intention in some uncertainty. Fetae,' v. 176, points to a still earlier stage, before the calves are weaned. Thus the order of time is exactly reversed. It is not clear whether gramina' means hay, or whether it is to be understood as joined by a zeugma to " carpes,' the meaning being that besides grazing they are to have corn gathered for them. 175.] The meaning of 'vescus' was a question in the time of Gellius, who speaks of it twice (5. 12., 16. 5), deriving it from 've,'' esca,' and attributing to it two opposite significations, eating much and eating little, the former supported by Lucr. 1. 326, vesco sale saxa peresa," the latter by Lucilius (26. 52), "fastidiosum ac vescum [cum fastidio] vivere." Both would be reconciled by the sense macer,' assigned to it by Philarg., with whom Serv. virtually agrees, a sense which also suits the other instances adduced of its use, Afran. (fr. 'Sorores') v. 315, "vescis imbecillus viribus;" Pliny 7. 20, “ corpore vesco sed Sed frumenta manu carpes sata; nec tibi fetae, Sin ad bella magis studium turmasque ferocis, eximiis viribus" (speaking of a gladiator); naeus. 176.] Serv. understands 'frumenta sata' of the 'farrago,' mentioned v. 205; but it evidently means growing corn. Varro's precept is (2. 5) "Semestribus vitulis obiiciunt furfures triticeos, et farinam hordeaceam, et teneram herbam." 177.] The same advice is given by Varro 2. 2, Col. 7. 4, the former intimating that different customs prevailed. See E. 3. 6. 178.] Consument in natos,' as we talk of spending on a person or thing. Forcell. adduces Prop. 5. 6. 55, "pondus pharetrae consumit in arcus;" Auct. ad Herenn. 1. 3, "Inventio in sex partis orationis consumitur." 179-208.] 'Foals intended for chargers or racers should be accustomed from the first to the sights and sounds of their future life. When their third year is past they may be practised in the ring, and afterwards put to full speed. When broken, they should be fed well: before they are apt to be restiff.' 179.] Heyne and others understand 'formare' from v. 163, but Wund. justly complains of the unauthorized ellipse, and 180 185 connects 'studium ad bella.' This, which seems the only natural construction, is supported by the context, 'praelabi' and 'agitare' both referring to the breeder's aim for himself. Virgil, as Wund. remarks, doubtless thought of such phrases as 'studium conferre ad aliquid.' Studere in aliquid' is also found: see Forcell. 180.] Virgil, writing from the inspiration of his Greek models, talks of the Olympic chariot races rather than of those of the circus. 181.] Iovis in luco,' the Altis, where the race-course was. Πρόκειται δ' ἄλσος dypieλaíwv iv ý tò orádiov, Strabo 7, C. 353. 182.] Primus equi labor,' the first part of a horse's training. The Med. has 'equis.' 183.] 'Gementem' is emphatic, as it is the noise of the wheels that a foal is to be taught to bear. 184.] So Varro 2. 7, " eademque caussa ibi frenos suspendendum, ut equuli consuescant et videre eorum faciem et e motu audire crepitus." The sound is not merely the jingling of the bridles, but of the bells which were frequently attached to them. 185.] Blandis,' caressing, as in v. 496, E. 4. 23. Magistri' may refer specially to the trainer (comp. Hor. 1 Ep. 2. 64) as distinct from the breeder, v. 118; but there is hardly evidence that Virgil meant to discriminate them. 'Tum' seems to come under 'primus labor,' not to be distinguished from it. 186.] "Manibusque lacessunt Pectora plausa cavis," A. 12. 85. Gr. ποππύζειν. 187.] Philarg., followed by Wakef., makes 'primo' adverbial, but it is evidently an epithet of ubere,' though the sense intended is that of 'primum.' Audeat, inque vicem det mollibus ora capistris 188.] Audiat' was the reading before Heinsius, who restored audeat' from the best MSS., including the Med. (first reading), Rom., and Vat. Ladewig has gaudeat,' an ingenious conjecture, but inferior in sense to the text, which implies that natural timidity has to be overcome and courage developed, while 'gaudeat,' besides being a repetition of 'gaudere,' v. 185, would hardly be appropriate to a colt's first experiences. Inque vicem' implies that these experiments on his courage are to alternate with, or to be occasionally exchanged for, wearing the halter (Wagn.). So Trapp, 'now and then.' The 'capistra' (Dict. A.) were made of osiers, whence 'mollibus.' 189.] Inscius aevi' might be taken as 'inscii aevi' (which seems to be Martyn's view, 'of tender years'), like 'integer aevi' A. 2. 638., 9. 255, aevi maturus' 5. 73: but 'venturi inscius aevi,' A. 8. 627, is in favour of making 'aevi' the objective gen. A question still remains whether the sense is unconscious of his powers,' as Heyne takes it, or 'ignorant of life,' which would agree equally well with the context. Virgil however may well have contemplated both senses. 190.] Varro 2. 7 and Col. 6. 29 prescribe that a horse should be broken in for racing when he has completed his third year; and this is evidently what Virgil means. Wagn. however maintains that ' accesserit' would denote that the fourth year was finished, and accordingly reads 'acceperit' from the Rom. and another MS., as in E. 8. 39, “iam tum me acceperat annus." This however would only be the case if we connected tribus exactis' closely with accesserit,' whereas it is at least as natural to understand the former words abl. abs., and supply 'equo' to 'accesserit.' So Cic. Ep. ad Q. 1. 1 says, num tertium accessisse desiderio nostro et labori tuo," meaning that his brother has just been continued in office for a third year. Perhaps too Martyn may be right in 66 an 190 195 pressing the meaning of 'aestas,' and supposing that the horse, being born in the spring, would only be entering his fourth year when he saw his fourth summer. 'Aestas' was restored by Heins. from some good MSS. (including the Rom. and Vat.) for aetas,' the use of which in the sense of 'annus' is doubtful. See A. 1. 267, 756, &c. 191.] Gyrum :' v. 115. 'Carpere gyrum,' like carpere campum.' The horse is to be taught his paces. 'Sonare' is not merely ornamental, as the ring of the hoof was esteemed a mark of its soundness. Germ. quotes Xenophon de Re Equestri, c. 1, καὶ τῷ ψόφῳ δέ φησι Σίμων δήλους εἶναι τοὺς εὔποδας, καλῶς λέγων· ὥσπερ γὰρ κύμβαλον ψοφεῖ πρὸς τῷ δαπέδῳ ἡ koin dπλý. 193.] Laboranti similis' implies that he is not to follow his own bent, but to be trained. So Hor. 2 Od. 3. 11, "obliquo laborat Lympha fugax trepidare rivo," the stream not flowing straight on, but being forced to bend, like the horse here in the ring. 'Anhelanti similis' A. 5. 234; "indignanti similem similemque minanti" 8. 649. 194.] Then let him try his full speed.' 'Vocet,' challenge, more usually expressed by 'provocare,' or by something explanatory in the context, such as 'vocare in certamen.' Comp. A. 11. 442; "Solum Aeneas vocat: et vocet oro." 'Cursibus' is probably the instrumental abl., as in A. 12. 84, "anteirent cursibus auras," though it might possibly be the dat., as if it had been ad cursus vocet. 'Provocet' was the reading before Heins., but Med. and Rom. have 'tum vocet,' which is much more forcible. 'Ceu liber habenis,' as if he were simply following his own will, contrasted with laboranti similis.' Keightley thinks there is a reference to the weight of the rider. 195.] Vestigia' may either be understood strictly, or as put for 'pedes.' See on E. 6. 58. 196.] This is a specimen of Virgil's similes, which, like those of Homer, when Incubuit, Scythiaeque hiemes atque arida differt they extend to any length, are generally 197.] The wind scatters the clouds and drives them before it.' "Venti vis. . . . nubila differt," Lucr. 1. 272. 'Arida' because it is a clear, sharp blast without rain (Wagn.). Comp. Sen. N. Q. 3. 28, "fluere assiduos imbres et non esse modum pluviis, suppressis Aquilonibus et flatu sicciore;" Lucan 4. 50," Pigro bruma gelu siccisque Aquilonibus haerens Aethere constricto pluvias in nube tenebat." 198.] Whether 'tum' is correlative to 'cum,' v. 196, or merely a particle of transition, as apparently in other similes (e.g. A. 11. 724., 12. 591), is doubtful. The parallel of A. 1. 148, 151, is in favour of the former; there however the sentence introduced by 'tum' constitutes the point of the comparison, which is not here the case. Perhaps it is safest to say that here 'tum' does not mean definitely either at that moment,' or 'next,' but denotes generally that the action which follows belongs to the same time as that which precedes. Campi 200 natantes' is from Lucr., where it seems to mean the space overflowed with water (see 5. 488, where the formation of the sea is described, and 6. 267, where he is speaking of a deluge), from which it comes to be a periphrasis for the sea, like "campi liquentes," A. 6. 724. Comp. Lucr. 6. 1141, "Nam penitus veniens Aegypti finibus ortus ('morbus' Lachm.), Aera permensus multum camposque natantis, Incubuit tandem populo Pandionis omni" (speaking of the plague), the first line of which and the word incubuit' show that the passage was in Virgil's mind. Here accordingly the water must be meant, as Keightley rightly contends, remarking that Virgil may have had two conjoint similes of Homer in view, Il. 2. 144 foll. 199.] Lenibus flabris' marks the beginning of the gale. "Tarde primum clementi flamine pulsae (undae) Procedunt,' Catull. 62 (64). 273, referred to by Keightley. 'Sonor' is a Lucretian word. 200.] "Resonantia longe Litora misceri, et nemorum increbescere murmur Occur among the prognostics of wind 1. 358. 'Longi fluctus,' long waves, which denotes the force of the winds, not, as Heyne renders it, "qui longe, e longinquo, veniunt" (Keightley). 201.] Comp. 4. 174, "Illi inter sese magna vi brachia tollunt In numerum, versantque tenaci forcipe ferrum ;" A. 1. 153, "Ille regit dictis animos et pectora mulcet," where the simile is concluded similarly by a return to the original subject of it. 202.] Hinc,' the reading of the Med. a m. sec., Rom., and Vat., was preferred by Heyne, but Wagn. seems right in explaining 'hic' 'a horse like this.' The preceding simile, though its elaboration has but little to do with the horse, is supposed to have impressed the reader with his high qualities. 'Metas et maxuma campi spatia' seems to be a kind of hendiadys, as if it had been 'metas campi maxumis spatiis,' or, as it might have been expressed,' ad metas per campum maxumis spatiis.' 203.] Sudabit' contains the notion of 'sudans ibit.' Forb. comp. Prop. 5. 1. 70, "Has meus ad metas sudet oportet equus," |
