Narcissi lacrimam et lentum de cortice gluten in the other uses of the genitive after a 160.] See on v. 39. 'Lacrimam' is used like dákovov in Aristot., there quoted, of that which exudes from flowers, as in Pliny 11. 6., 21. 5., 23 prooem., of the exudations of trees, lilies, and vines. Pliny 1. c. and Theophr. Caus. Pl. 1. 4 (referred to by Keightley) assert that lilies are propagated by these tears. There may be also a reference, as Serv. and Cerda think, to the fate of the mythological Narcissus. Martyn compares Milton's "daffodillies fill their cups with tears," where however the tears, if not a mere development of the image of the cup, may refer to rain or dew. 161.] Fundamen' is a variety for 'fundamentum,' like 'augmen' for 'augmentum,' &c. It is twice used by Ovid. 162.] Suspendunt:' "This term is properly used; for bees commence their work in the top of the hive”(Sheridan). The latter part of this line, the two which follow, and vv. 167–169, are repeated with two or three slight changes A. 1. 431 foll. 165.] Sorti' is probably the archaic form of the ablative, like parti,' 'ruri,' &c., as "sorti evenisset" is quoted from Livy 29. 20, "sorti victus" from Plaut. Cas. 2. 7. 6. Otherwise, as Heyne remarks, it might very well be the dative, ' as their charge.' Cerda finds fault with the word, which of course cannot strictly be applied to the bees, alleging that the Roman sentinels were not appointed by lot, but succeeded by rotation; but Emm. shows in reply that both principles were 160 165 observed. If Virgil has any distinct meaning, he may probably intend that the sentrywork falls by lot to the class, but is taken in turn by the individuals (in vicem). There may however be a distinction intended between the 'custodes,' who watch against enemies (such as those mentioned vv. 13 foll.), and the 'speculatores,' who look out for showers, perhaps flying abroad for the purpose. 166.] See v. 191. The bees always contrive to avoid rain, scarcely any of them being ever caught in a shower, unless from some accidental disablement (Lond. Enc.). 'Aquas' with 'caeli,' like " aquae caelestis," Hor. 3 Od. 10. 19, 2 Ep. 1. 135. Aristot. 1. c. says рoуivwokovoi dè kai Xeμõva kaì vôwp ai μéλittai. 167.] Virgil may mean, as Keightley thinks, that the sentinels have also the charge of receiving the burdens and driving away the drones; but this looks too like refining. Aut... aut' doubtless belongs grammatically to ‘sunt qui,' inferred from 'sunt quibus;' but the most natural sense is, that while some are keeping watch, others are receiving, others again expelling. 168.] Ignavum pecus,' like “mutum et turpe pecus "Hor. 1 S. 3. 100,"servum pecus "1 Ep. 19. 19, possibly suggested here, like 'praesepibus,' by the subject of the preceding book. The drones are not expelled, but massacred after the swarms have left the hive. Varro however (3. 16) and Col. (9. 15) agree with Virgil; and Aelian (1. 10) says that the drone is first chastised gently for stealing honey, and afterwards, on repetition of the offence, put to death. With the order of the words in the line comp. v. 246 below, and E. 3.3. 169.] This sums up the description, directing the attention from the various parts to the whole effect. So at the conclusion of the similar description of the ants, A. 4. 407," opere omnis semita fervet." With Ac veluti lentis Cyclopes fulmina massis 'redolent . . . mella,' we may compare the 170-196.] 'Like the Cyclopes in Aetna, some blowing the bellows, some tempering the metal, each bee is zealous in his own work; the old stay at home, building up the combs, the younger fly abroad, gather honey all day, and return laden at night: all rise together to work: all return together, and sleep simultaneously. In stormy weather they do not fly as usual, but remain about the hive or try short flights, ballasting themselves with little pebbles.' 170.] This simile is defended against the charge of exaggeration by Pope (Postscript to Odyssey) on the ground that the sense of disproportion is moral as well as intellectual, and so is applicable only to the inflated vanity of rational beings, not to irrational animals, which cannot be made objects of censure; by Heyne, with the remark that the point of the simile lies in the work done, and that the bees are intended to gain by the juxta-position. Neither criticism appears satisfactory: the first seems to assume, what is certainly not the case, that in order to condemn the poet we must feel a personal resentment against the objects which he exaggerates, as being participes criminis :' the latter ignores the fact that it is the comparison of bees to Cyclopes under any circumstances that is objected to, because the sense of what they have in common is borne down and overwhelmed by the sense of their utter difference. It is true that the similarity of bees and men is a thought which, judiciously or injudiciously, is made to run throughout the poem; but the step from human labour to the gigantic exertions of demigods is a considerable one, and is only to be excused by supposing, as has been already intimated on v. 86, that Virgil here and elsewhere is more or less consciously mock-heroic. 'Massa' seems to be the lump of ore, in 66 170 175 cluding both metal and slag. Stringere venas Ferventis massae crudo de pulvere iussit," Pers. 2. 68. The thunderbolts here seem to be formed of iron or some other metal, not, as in A. 8. 426 foll., which should be compared, of less ponderable materials. 171.] Properant:' because unremitting industry is part of the point of the comparison. We may suppose the Cyclopes to be labouring to meet a sudden demand from Jupiter. The rest of the line and the four that follow are repeated almost verbally A. 8. 449 foll., where the Cyclopes set themselves to making armour for Aeneas with unusual speed, dividing the labour. "Conclusas hircinis follibus auras," Hor. I S. 4. 19. 172.] Perhaps from Od. 9. 391, wc d'ör' ἀνὴρ χαλκεὺς πέλεκυν μέγαν ἠὲ σκέπαρνον Εἰν ὕδατι ψυχρῷ βάπτῃ μεγάλα ἰάχοντα. Forb. refers to Lucr. 6. 148, where the phenomenon is described. But 173.] It seems better to understand 'lacus' of a trough standing by for the purpose than to suppose it with Heyne to be used poetically for aqua,' like' fons.' See Forcell., who shows that it was used not only in the vineyard but in the oliveyard. Ameis may be right in giving it its ordinary sense, as if nothing smaller than a lake or pool would suit such gigantic operations. 'Inpositis' is explained by Voss, placed on the block, aкμółɛтov, but it is far better and simpler to suppose Virgil merely to mean that the mountain groans beneath the weight of the anvils. For Aetna' Vat. and several MSS. give antrum,' seemingly from A. 8. 451. 174.] The description seems to be from Callim., Hymn to Artemis, vv. 59—61, where the Cyclopes are represented oidŋoov 'Außoladig tetutóvtes. The appropriateness of the rhythm need hardly be adverted to. 176.] Comp. E. 1. 23. 177.] 'Non aliter urguet,' acts similarly as a stimulus, i. e. makes them work as hard. Cecropias' is a literary epithet, but it is applied intentionally, to invest the bees with the dignity of the old mythical Y Munere quamque suo. Grandaevis oppida curae, Et munire favos, et daedala fingere tecta. and historical associations of one of the 182.] 'Salices,' E. 1. 55. Casiam,' 2. 213. 'Crocum,' called 'rubentem' here, xpvoavynę by Soph. Oed. C. 685, referred to by Cerda. The three divisions of the style, Martyn remarks, are of the colour of fire. Col. (9.4) directs it to be planted near the hive to colour and scent the honey. 183.] Tiliam,' v. 141, here called 'pinguem' from the gluten on its leaves. Ferrugineos,' note on 1. 467. 184.] Some MSS. connect 'operum with labor,' but 2. 155, A. 1. 455, where the combination occurs, are, as Forb. remarks, not in point. "Mors laborum ac miseriarum quies est," Cic. 4 Cat. 4. 178.] 'Munere suo 6 seems to be a modal abl., belonging not so much to any thing expressed in the sentence as to the notion of working implied in 'non aliter urguet.'' Grandaevis :' the same division is noticed by Aristot. 1. c. ruv de μeλerTwv αἱ μὲν πρεσβύτεραι τὰ εἴσω ἐργάζονται, καὶ δασεῖαί εἰσι διὰ τὸ εἴσω μένειν. αἱ δὲ νέαι ἔξωθεν φέρουσι, καὶ εἰσὶ λειότεραι. There is also a reference, as Serv. remarks, to the custom of setting the old men to man the walls while the young go out and fight. 6 179.] Munire' for 'fabricari,' to keep up the image of a town. This seems simpler than to suppose the reference to be to the fencing of the hive, or to the closing of the cells with wax so as to preserve the winter-stores. For fingere' one MS. has 'figere:' see on v. 57. The epithet daedala' is well known to the readers of Lucr. 180.] Multa nocte' must mean when the night is far advanced, an inappropriate expression here, as the bees, like all other animals, hasten home before it is dark. Keightley. Stat. Ach. 1. 555, quoted by Cerda, expresses himself more accurately, quales iam nocte propinqua E pastu referuntur apes ;" and so Virgil himself v. 186. 181.] Plenus' has here rather the force of repletus,' as Keightley remarks, comparing Hor. 1 Ep. 20.8., 2. 1. 100. ‘Pascuntur, 3. 314. Pascuntur in order of time would precede 'referunt.' The sense is merely that the old bees stay at home, the young gather honey abroad, 185.] Ruunt portis' again recalls military associations. Jacobs comp. Livy 27. 41, "equites peditesque certatim portis ruere.' 186.] E pastu decedere,' 1. 381. 187.] Corpora curant,' referring to the evening refreshment, A. 3. 511, Hor. 2 S. 2. 80; "curare corpora cibo somnoque," Livy 3. 2. Serv. observes that as applied to men it includes bathing as well as eating; as applied to bees, only the latter. 188.] Musso,' the frequentative of 'mutio,' a verb formed from the sound, like the Greek μów, is here applied to the humming of bees, as in A. 11. 454 to the murmuring of the old men of Latium. In A. 11. 345., 12. 657, 718, it has the notion of hesitation, the implied contrast being with articulate utterance, and as such it takes in the former passage an infinitive, in the two latter a subjoined clause. ' Oras' of the entrances: see on v. 38.-Aristot. 1. c. adds a circumstance to Virgil's description: ¿λ0võσai máλiv Oорvßovσi Tò πршτον, κατὰ μικρὸν δ ̓ ἧττον, ἕως ἂν μία περιπετομένη βομβήσῃ, ὥσπερ σημαί νουσα καθεύδειν· εἶτ ̓ ἐξαπίνης σιωπῶσιν. 189.] 'Thalamis:' Jacobs comp. Antiphil. Ep. 29, μeλoo@v avтoπayɛiç Oaλápai; Nicias Ep. 7, κηροπαγὴς θάλαμος, In noctem, fessosque sopor suus occupat artus. Nec vero a stabulis pluvia inpendente recedunt Longius, aut credunt caelo adventantibus Euris; Sed circum tutae sub moenibus urbis aquantur, Excursusque brevis temptant, et saepe lapillos, Ut cymbae instabiles fluctu iactante saburram, Tollunt, his sese per inania nubila librant. Illum adeo placuisse apibus mirabere morem, Quod neque concubitu indulgent, nec corpora segnes In Venerem solvunt, aut fetus nixibus edunt; Verum ipsae e foliis natos et suavibus herbis Ore legunt, ipsae regem parvosque Quirites Sufficiunt, aulasque et cerea regna refingunt. 190.]Sopor suus' is probably to be explained like 'vere suo,' v. 22, 'the sleep they love,' 'kindly sleep,' the chord being as it were struck by the epithet 'fessos,' though it is conceivable that' suus may have a distributive force, as if it had been 'cuique suus.' With the former interpretation Forb. well comp. Ov. M. 6. 489, "placido dantur sua corpora somno," where the relation is reversed. 191.] 'Nec vero' seems to mark a transition, as in 2. 109, there being no particular connexion of this and the following notices of the habits of bees with the preceding description, or with each other. 'Stabulis,' v. 14. Aratus (Diosem. 296) mentions the indisposition of bees to fly far among the signs of rain. 192.] Credere' is understood by Serv. and Keightley, as if it were se credere ' like "ausus se credere caelo," A. 6. 15; "dubio se credere caelo," Quinct. Decl. 13. 17; but it is simpler to understand it in the ordinary way, of trusting to the aspect of the sky, like" caelo et pelago confise sereno," A. 5. 870. 193.] Circum,' round the hive, explained by sub moenibus urbis.' Some MSS. of Priscian 8. 79 read' pro moenibus,' but 'sub' is given from others by Keil, and is supported by Non. s. v. aquari,' an older authority. 194.] The fact of bees ballasting themselves with stones is mentioned by Aristot. H. A. 9. 40, and other ancient writers. 196.] The spondee tollunt,' followed by a pause, expresses the difficulty of rising into the air so ballasted, as Wagn. remarks. 'Inania' is an ordinary epithet, used here to account for the need of ballast. Voss well compares "nubes et inania captet," Hor. A. P. 230, though he erroneously understands the epithet here to mean rainless clouds. 190 195 200 197-209.] Bees do not generate like other animals, but find their young among the flowers. Their ardour in their honeygetting work is such, that they often expose themselves to accidental death while engaged in it. In any case they are short-lived, seven years being their limit, yet the race ever goes on.' 197.] This or a similar opinion on a very vexed question was held by others of the ancients see Aristot. H. A. 5. 21, Pliny 11. 16. 'Adeo' apparently emphasizes 'illum:' see on E. 4. 11. 198.] Quod neque' is restored by Wagn. from Rom. and other MSS. for 'Quod nec,' as more in accordance with Virgil's usual practice in the latter part of the first foot of a hexameter, the only undoubted instance on the other side being A. 5. 783, "Quam nec longa dies, pietas nec mitigat ulla," where, as he thinks, the slowness of the measure suits the feeling of the passage. 199.] Fornixibus' Med., Rom., and others give 'nexibus,' but Wagn. rightly observes that Virgil is speaking in this clause of the female alone. We shall find a similar variety in A. 1. 448. 200.] Ipsae,' without the male. 'Suavibus,' the plants from which they gather honey. Aristot. (1. c.) says that of those who held this opinion some said the young bees were found in the cerintha, some on reeds, some on olive-blossoms. Saepe etiam duris errando in cotibus alas 'refingunt' has considerable support, and 203-205.] Sir Daniel Molyneux suggested to Martyn that these three lines ought to follow v. 196, and Schrader, Heyne, Forb., and Keightley incline to agree with him. Wagn. thinks they did not belong to the original draught, but were written afterwards a theory which he applies to other passages in the Georgics. There is certainly great apparent awkwardness in the present passage as it stands; but either of the two hypotheses would be very hazardous. Wagn.'s other instances appear to break down, the only cases made out as probable being such as 2. 171 foll., 3. 32, where the insertion, if it be an insertion, is not an excrescence on the poem, but carefully rendered homogeneous with it: while it may be doubted whether there is any other instance in Virgil, the general integrity of whose text is quite beyond suspicion, where it can be shown to be really likely that lines have been transposed. Perhaps we are wrong in seeking for any close connexion in a context like this, where, as has been remarked on v. 191, the various notices of the habits of bees seem to be rather isolated from each other. If it is necessary to discover a link, it may be suggested that the mention of the constant succession reminded Virgil of the accidents which carry off bees before their time, in themselves a proof of the energy of the race, and that thence he was led to observe that in spite of the frequency of such accidents and the scanty lives enjoyed by individuals in any case, the line was inextinguishable. Bryce supposes the connexion to be, that though they have not the ordinary inducement to provide for their young, they still work indefatigably, risking and even sacrificing their lives, a thing only to be explained by their love of their occupation. But Virgil evidently supposes them to rear their young, whether they generate them or no; and 205 moreover the interpretation is confessedly open to the objection that it supposes vv. 206 foll. to be unconnected with what precedes. Errando:' so Chapman's Homer, Il. 2. 401: "thick as swarms of flies Throng then to sheep-cotes, when each swarm his erring wing applies To milk dew'd on the milkmaid's pails.' 204.] Ultro' is explained by Wagn. as ='insuper' or 'adeo,' a sense easily reconcilable with its etymology, and applicable to its use elsewhere. But it may be doubted whether it is not rather to be understood here, as in E. 8. 52, and many other passages in Virgil, gratuitously,' ' of their own accord,' which is as readily connected with the derivation from 'ulter,' the action being beyond what was expected. The death of the bees may be considered as gratuitous, or what is the same thing, generous, being encountered in the public service. (So also Ameis.) The death is doubtless meant to be the result of the injury to the wings, so that 'sub fasce' may express not only the effect of the load in helping to destroy life, but the constancy of the sufferer in refusing to part with his burden. 'Fasce,' 3. 347. 'Animam dedere :' 'vitam dare' occurs A. 9. 704, ‘edere animam' Cic. Pro Sest. 38. 205.] Comp. 2. 301., 3. 112. 206.] Ergo' seemingly calls back the mind to the main thought of the preceding context, the propagation of the race of bees. See instances of a similar use of the word in Hand, Turs. 2. 462, 463. 'Ipsas' distinguished from ' genus.' A former reading 'angustus' has little or no authority. 207.] Excipiat' is explained by Heyne, probably enough, after the analogy of λaBiv and λaxeiv used of fortune as befalling a person, the force of the preposition being that the fortune in question succeeds to some supposed previous state; but it may have a distinct reference to the term of their life as receiving them at their birth, a sense illustrated in note on 2. 345. In A. 3. 317, 318, to which Heyne refers, the succession is not implied, but expressed in the words "deiectam coniuge tanto." Aristot. (H. A. 5. 22) gives six or seven years as the ordinary limit of their life, nine or ten as the extreme. Plus sep |
