Vobis parta quies; nullum maris aequor arandum,
Arva neque Ausoniae semper cedentia retro
Quaerenda. Effigiem Xanthi Troiamque videtis,
Quam vestrae fecere manus, melioribus, opto,
Auspiciis, et quae fuerit minus obvia Graiis.
Si quando Thybrim vicinaque Thybridis arva
Intraro, gentique meae data moenia cernam,
Cognatas urbes olim populosque propinquos,
Epiro, Hesperia, quibus idem Dardanus auctor
Atque idem casus, unam faciemus utramque
Troiam animis; maneat nostros ea cura nepotes.
Provehimur pelago vicina Ceraunia iuxta,
Unde iter Italiam cursusque brevissimus undis.
Sol ruit interea et montes umbrantur opaci.

500-505. He indulges a hope that their posterity may be friendly and allied nations. "But Vergil is likely enough to have intended a special reference to some historical relations between Rome and Epirus." —Con.

506. Vicina Ceraunia. Following the coast to the northwest, they reach the Promontorium Acroceraunium, the westernmost portion of Epirus, "whence is the shortest passage to Italy." This is their eighth landing since leaving Troy (cf. 1. 209, note). Ariosto thus describes

this spot:

Acroceraunus points the brine, against whose base the billow heaves. Orl. Fur. XXI. 16.

Shelley (Hellas):

From Caucasus to white Ceraunia.

This was a dangerous, rocky coast. Thus Horace (Odes, I. III. 19):

Qui vidit mare turgidum et

495

500

505

Infames scopulos Acroceraunia. "The name is derived from Gr. &кpos and keрavvós, because the rocky peaks were frequently struck by lightning."

RUAEUS.

508-524. Observe the exquisite imagery of this passage: the setting sun, the shadowy mountains, the sandy beach, the sleeping sailors; then the still midnight, the watchful Palinurus, the freshening breeze, the silently gliding stars; suddenly the trumpet blast, the bustle of embarcation, the ships with spread sails like great white birds, the fading stars and the reddening dawn,- the dawn of a wonderful day for the weary exiles, for it is to reveal to their eyes for the first time that Italy which, in the language of prophet and priest, has hitherto been as dim and indefinite as even now her lowlying hills appear in the early dawn.

501. Intraro, 216. 507. Italiam, 121.— 514. Aëra, 229, 1).

Sternimur optatae gremio telluris ad undam,
Sortiti remos, passimque in litore sicco
Corpora curamus; fessos sopor irrigat artus.
Necdum orbem medium Nox horis acta subibat:

510

Haud segnis strato surgit Palinurus et omnes
Explorat ventos, atque auribus aëra captat;
Sidera cuncta notat tacito labentia caelo,

515

Arcturum pluviasque Hyadas geminosque Triones,
Armatumque auro circumspicit Oriona.

Postquam cuncta videt caelo constare sereno,

Dat clarum e puppi signum; nos castra movemus,
Tentamusque viam et velorum pandimus alas.
Iamque rubescebat stellis Aurora fugatis,

Cum procul obscuros colles humilemque videmus
Italiam. Italiam primus conclamat Achates,
Italiam laeto socii clamor salutant.

Tum pater Anchises magnum cratera corona
Induit implevitque mero, divosque vocavit
Stans celsa in puppi :

Dî maris et terrae tempestatumque potentes,
Ferte viam vento facilem et spirate secundi.
Crebrescunt optatae aurae, portusque patescit
Iam propior, templumque apparet in arce Minervae.
Vela legunt socii, et proras ad litora torquent.
Portus ab Euroo fluctu curvatus in arcum ;
Obiectae salsa spumant aspargine cautes;
Ipse latet; gemino demittunt bracchia muro

525-6. Cf. I. 724. Spenser may have this passage in mind in Faerie Queen, I. III. 31:

Soone as the port from far he has espied,
His chearfull whistle merily doth sound,
And Nereus crowns with cups; his mates
him pledg around.

520

525

530

535

531-2. This is their ninth landing. This spot was on the extremity of the heel of Italy being the Promontorium Iapygium Salentinum.

535. Ipse, i. e. portus. Latet seems to be opposed to patescit (1. 530). Con. thus explains it. "The harbor is retired,

Turriti scopuli, refugitque ab litore templum.
Quattuor hic, primum omen, equos in gramine vidi
Tondentes campum late, candore nivali.

Et pater Anchises: Bellum, o terra hospita, portas ;
Bello armantur equi, bellum haec armenta minantur.
Sed tamen idem olim curru succedere sueti
Quadrupedes, et frena iugo concordia ferre;
Spes et pacis, ait. Tum numina sancta precamur
Palladis armisonae, quae prima accepit ovantes,
Et capita ante aras Phrygio velamur amictu;
Praeceptisque Heleni, dederat quae maxima, rite
Iunoni Argivae iussos adolemus honores.
Haud mora, continuo perfectis ordine votis,
Cornua velatarum obvertimus antennarum,
Graiugenûmque domos suspectaque linquimus arva.
Hinc sinus Herculei, si vera est fama, Tarenti
Cernitur; attollit se diva Lacinia contra,
Caulonisque arces et navifragum Scylaceum.

and in fact concealed between the rocks on each side of it; but as the ships approach, a way is seen between the barriers. Aeneas is giving a general account of the haven, not describing its features as they broke upon him gradually."

539. Cf. the omens which the Carthaginians derived from the horse, I. 442 seq.

540

545

550

551. Hinc. "Then," or "next," i. e., as they round the point which would bring the gulf of Tarentum into view.— Herculei, si vera est fama. According to one legend, Tarentum was founded by Hercules.

552. Diva Lacinia. There was & temple of Juno on the Lacinium Promon torium.

553. Navifragum Scylaceum. Ver544. Armisonae. So Pallas is armi- gil here refers to the town and region potens in II. 425.

about midway between the Lacinium

545. They obey the instructions of Promontorium and the toe of Italy. "The

Helenus (1. 405).

547. Cf. 1. 437.

shore about Scylaceum is said not to be rocky, so that the epithet navifragum re

550. Graiugenum. So in 1. 359, fers to the gales which blow about that Troiugena.

part of Italy."

CON.

540. Bello, 103.552. Diva Lacinia, 245, 5).