Pauperis et tugurî congestum cespite culmen, fines longo tempore post, 70 et culmen pauperis tuguri, congestum cesp ite, stans post aliquot aristas, tota mea regna. 75 79 [tem TIT. Hic tamen hanc mecum poteris requiescere noc- 76. Ego posthac projectus in viridi antro, non videbo vos procul pendere Et jam summa procul villarum culmina fumant, THE subject of this charming pastoral is the passion of the shepherd Corydon for the beautiful youth Alexis. The shepherd complains of the cruelty of the boy in slighting his overtures; and withal advises him not to trust too much to his complexion and beauty. He endeavors to prevail on him to visit the country, where he promises to entertain him with music, nuts, apples, and flowers. But when he finds nothing will avail, he resolves to seek another lover. By Corydon some understand Virgil himself, and by Alexis a beautiful slave, belonging to his friend and patron, Mæcenas. In several parts of this pastoral, the poet is indebted to Theocritus. The scene is laid in Sicily. FORMOSUM pastor Corydon ardebat Alexim, Delicias domini: nec, quid speraret, habebat. NOTES. 1. Ardebat: he greatly loved-he burned for. This word very forcibly marks the degree of his passion. 2. Delicias: the darling-the delight of his master. It is placed in apposition with Alexim. It is used only in the plural. 3. Inter densas fagos Tantùm inter densas, umbrosa cacumina, fagos habentes umbrosa cacu- Assiduè veniebat: ibi hæc incondita solus nina. Montibus et sylvis studio jactabat inani. 10. Thestylis contun- Thestylis et rapido fessis messoribus æstu dit allia serpyllumque, Allia serpyllumque herbas contundit olentes. olentes herbas, messori- At mecum raucis, tua dum vestigia lustro, bus fessis rapido æstu. Sole sub ardenti resonant arbusta cicadis. At, dum lustro tua vestigia, arbusta Nonne fuit satius tristes Amaryllidis iras, NOTES. 4. Ibi solus jactabat, &c. There alone he poured forth these indigested complaints. Jactabat: he threw them away-they were of no avail to him, because they were unheeded by Alexis. 5. Inani studio: with unavailing pleasure, or fondness. He speaks the language of a lover. The beauty and accomplishments of the boy had taken possession of his affections. He dwells upon them with rapture and delight. But all this is vain and unavailing. The boy regards him not. He then breaks forth: O crudelis Alexi, nihil mea carmina curas, &c. 7. Nil. This word is often used in the sense of non, as a simple negative. So also is nihil. 9. Lacertos: lizards. Spinetum: a place where thorns and prickly shrubs grow: here put for the thorns themselves, by meton. 10. Thestylis. The name of a servant; taken from Theocritus. 11. Allia plu. of allium, an herb called garlic. Serpyllum: wild-thyme, or runningbetony; an odoriferous herb. 13. Cicadis. The cicada is an insect of the species of the grasshopper, making a very hoarse and disagreeable noise, particularly in the heat of the day. Satius: in the sense of melius. 15. Menalcan. A Greek acc. of Menalcas. See Ecl. 3. Fastidia: plu. of fastidium: disdain-haughtiness. Pati: to bear-en dure. 18. Ligustra: plu. of Ligustrum: a privet or with-bind, a species of shrub or plant bearing very white flowers; taken for the 5 10 15 20 flowers themselves, by meton. Vaccinia : the blackberries or bilberries. Some take them for the Hyacinth of Theocritus, whom Virgil here imitates. The meaning of the poet is this: as the privets, though white and fair, (cadunt,) lie neglected because they are useless; and the blackberry is gathered and saved for its usefulness: so, Alexis, shall you, though fair and beautiful to the sight, be neglected for your pride; while Menalcas, though black and swarthy, shall be loved for his good disposition, and his conciliating temper. 21. Siculis. The mountains of Sicily are mentioned, either because they are famed for excellent pastures, or because the scene of the pastoral is laid in that country. 22. Estate: in summer. Frigore: in winter. 23. Siquando: the same as quando. When he called his herds. It was usual with shepherds to walk before their sheep, and call them. 24. Amphion. A celebrated musician, said to have been the son of Jupiter and Antiope, and born on mount Cythera. He was king of Thebes, and is said to have built the walls of that city by the music of his lyre. We are to understand by this, perhaps, his persuading, by his eloquence, a barbarous people to unite, and build a city for their common safety. His mother was wife to Lycus, king of Thebes, and put away by hh for the sake of Dirce, whom he married. Dirceus: an adj. either from Dirce his stepmother, or from a fountain of that name in Beotia. Aracyntho: a town and mountain Amphion Dircæus in Actæo Aracyntho. Nec sum adeò informis: nuper me in litore vidi, Cùm placidum ventis staret mare: non ego Daphnim, NOTES. in Beotia. But why it should be called Actæus, there is a difference of opinion. Servius thinks it is so called from a Greek word which signifies the shore. Probus derives it from Action, who, hunting near this mountain, was torn in pieces by his dogs, for having discovered Diana bathing herself. Mr. Davidson places the mountain in the confines of Attica and Beotia; and thinks it is so called from Acta or Acte, the country about Attica. Ruæus interprets Actao by maritimo. 26. Daphnim. A beautiful shepherd. See in Ecl. 5. Placidum: in the sense of tranquillum. 27. Imago. His image reflected from the water. Nunquam: in the sense of non. 28. O tantùm libeat tibi: O that it would please you to inhabit with me, &c. These are sweet lines. Sordida rura. Most commentators join tibi to sordida, disdained or despised by thee. But there is no need of this refinement. Sordida is a very proper epithet for cottages and country villages, which in general are indifferent in themselves, and poorly furnished, when compared with the splendor and luxury of cities. Or, we may suppose the poet to speak in the character of a lover, who thinks nothing good enough for the object of his affections. Rus is opposed to urbs. 30. Viridi hibisco. Ruæus takes these words to be in the dative case, and understands by them: to green or verdant pasture; ad virentem hibiscum, says he: taking the hibiscum for a kind of plant. But this in terpretation is attended with difficulty. Dr. Trapp takes it for a large plant or little tree, out of which wands were made. He observes, Virgil no where mentions it as food for cattle. Compellere, &c.: to drive them with a green switch. 31. Pana. Fan, the god of shepherds and hunters, is said to have been the son of Mercury and the nymph Dryope. He was educated in Arcadia; and wrapped in the skin of a goat, he was carried up to heaven by Jupiter, where all the gods ridiculed his appearance. He chiefly resided in Arcadia. He is said to have invented the pipe with seven reeds. He was worshipped in Arcadia, and is said to have given out oracles on mount Lycæus. His festivals, called by the Greeks Lyca, were introduced into Italy by Evander, and established at Rome under the name of Lupercalia, and celebrated the 15th of February. He was the chief of the Satyrs. 34. Trivisse labellum: to have worn the lip. From the verb tero. 36. Cicutis. Cicuta, an herb much like the Hemlock. Hence used for any hollow reed: hence also, by Meton. for a pipe. Fistula: a pipe connected together with seven unequal reeds, &c. These were put together with wax, as mentioned 32 supra. 41. Duo Capreoli: two young goats. Ca preoli: a diminitive noun, from capra or caper.. These were undoubtedly wild kids, taken from their dams, which he esteemed very much; and not those lost by him, and recovered again. Servius says: kids have Ecce ferunt Nymphæ calathis: tibi candida Naïs 50 Ipse ego cana legam tenerâ lanugine mala, Castaneasque nuces, mea quas Amaryllis amabat. Addam cerea pruna: et honos erit huic quoque pomo: Et vos, ô lauri, carpam, et te, proxima myrte: 55. Quoniam vos po- Sic positæ quoniam suaves miscetis odores. Rusticus es, Corydon; nec munera curat Alexis : Nec si muneribus certes, concedat Iolas. situ sic miscetis 58. Quid ego volui mihi misero? Perditus immisi austrum floribus, Eheu, quid volui misero mihi? floribus Austrum Perditus, et liquidis immisi fontibus apros. et apros. NOTES. at first white spots, which afterwards change, and lose their beauty. If it be so, this circumstance will explain the words, sparsis etiam nunc pellibus albo : which also denotes that they were young. 46. Ecce ferunt: behold the nymphs bring for you lilies in full baskets, &c. The following lines are extremely beautiful. Mr. Warton observes, they contain the sweetest garland ever offered by a lover. The agitation and doubts of a lover's mind are finely set forth: nec munera curat Alexis, &c. At length he seems to come to himself, and to reflect upon the state of his affairs: vitis semiputata est, &c. Nymphæ. They were a kind of female Divinities supposed to exist for a very great length of time; but not to be altogether immortal. They were divided into two general classes-Nymphs of the land, and Nymphs of the water. Each of these classes was divided into seve ral others. The former into Dryades-Hamadryades-Oreades-Napaa-Limoniades, &c. The latter into Oceanides-NereïdesNaïades or Naides-Potamides-Limniades, &c. All of which are of Greek derivation. The nymphs were further distinguished by an epithet taken from the place of their residence. Thus the Nymphs of Sicily are called Sicelides-those of Corycus, Coryciades or Corycides, &c. Echo is said to have been formerly a nymph; but falling in love with a beautiful youth called Narcissus, who refused her addresses, at which she was so much grieved that she pined away, till every part of her was consumed but her voice, that continued to haunt the woods and fountains, which she once frequented. Narcissus, stopping to repose himself by the side of a fountain, where he chanced to see his image reflected in the water, became enamoured with it: taking it for a nymph, he endeavored to approach it; but all his attempts being unavailing, he was so much disappointed that 55 51. Mala. Malum signifies several kinds of fruit, such as apples, peaches, quinces, &c. The last is here meant, as appears from the cana tenera lanugine: white with soft down, or fur. Mr. Dryden renders mala, peaches. 53. Cerea: of waxen-color. 54. Myrte. The Romans used crowns or garlands of laurel in their most splendid triumphs: and those of myrtle, in the ovatio. which was on horseback, and considered the lesser triumph, or triumph of less honor and dignity than that in which the conqueror rode in a chariot. The myrtle tree was sacred to Venus, and the laurel to Apollo. Proxima: next in honor to the laurel. 56. Rusticus: in the sense of stultus. 57. Iolas. The owner or master of Alexis. 58. Eheu, quid volui, &c. Lit. what have. I done to myself, a miserable man? Alas! ruined, I have let in the south winds, &c. These expressions are proverbial, and applicable to those who wish for things that prove ruinous to them. Dr. Trapp explains the passage thus: By my folly in indulging this extravagant passion, I have ruined my peace and quiet, and permitted my affairs to go to decay, which were before well managed, flourishing, and prosperous. Volui. Rumus interprets it by feci. Quem fugis, ah, demens! habitârunt dî quoque sylvas, 61 Te Corydon, ô Alexi: trahit sua quemque voluptas. 65 Et sol crescentes decedens duplicat umbras. Me tamen urit amor : quis enim modus adsit amori? NOTES. 60. Demens: O foolish boy, whom do you flee? Demens, compounded of de and mens. 61. Paris. See nom. prop. under Paris. Dardanius, an adj. of Dardanus, one of the founders of Troy. Pallas, the same as Minerva. See Geor. I. 18. 62. Colat: in the sense of incolat. 65. Sua voluptas trahit quemque: his own pleasure draws every one-every one is drawn by his own pleasure. 70 71. Quin potius tu paras detexere saltem aliquid eorum, quorum usus indiget viminibus. 66. Referunt. After the labor of the day, they drew home the plough inverted, so that the share would glide easily over the ground, and hang, as it were, lightly upon the yoke. 71. Quin tu, &c. Why do you not rather prepare to make (weave) at least some of those things which need requires, of osiers and pliant rushes? The verb indigeo governs the genitive. Usus: need, or necessity. QUESTIONS. What is the subject of this pastoral? of Corydon? Who under that of Alexis? Where is the scene laid? Who was Amphion? What is said of him? Who was Pan? What is said of him? What were his festivals called by the Greeks? What by the Romans? By whom were they introduced into Italy? When were they celebrated? Who were the Nymphs? Into how many classes may they be divided? Was each of these classes subdivided into other classes? Can you mention some of those subdivisions? Who was Echo said to have been? From what language are the names of the Nymphs derived? |