[279] Lustramur middle. The purification was doubtless required by their recent adventure with the Harpies. ‘Iovi,’ in honour of Jupiter. The expression is imitated by Gratius Cyn. 492, “Lustraturque deae.” It is asked why Jove is singled out rather than Apollo, the tutelary god of the place. Jove had doubtless been invoked foremost among the “numina magna,” v. 264, and he would be specially propitiated here for the same reason, as aggrieved in the matter of the Harpies, partly perhaps by the inauspicious sacrifice, v. 223, partly by the attempt to injure his ministers, which the prophecy v. 251 seems to show that he resents. ‘Votis’ here stand for votive offerings. Wagn. well comp. Aesch. Ag. 91, βωμοὶ δώροισι φλέγονται. “Incensa altaria” occurs 8. 285. The vows are explained partly by what follows, v. 282, partly by what precedes, v. 264.
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John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of Virgil, with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. Late Corpus Professor of Latin in the University of Oxford. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane. 1876.
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