[658] Key (Lat. Gr. § 973) would connect ‘ingens’ with ‘lumen,’ comp. v. 636, and referring to other places in Virg. where the relative stands in the same part of the verse, preceded by a spondee in the same clause. But “Monstrum horrendum, ingens” 4. 181 is in favour of the old pointing, and there is more force in making the line consist of four attributes of Polyphemus, dreadfulness, hideousness, vastness, and blindness. ‘Monstrum ingens’ too seems intended as a translation of καὶ γὰρ θαῦμα τέτυκτο πελώριον Od. 9. 190. Another novelty is proposed by Henry, who understands ‘lumen’ not of the eye, but of the light of day,—a view supported by Ov. M. 14. 197, where Polyphemus says “Quam multum aut leve sit damnum mihi lucis ademptae!” (comp. v. 200 “inanem luminis orbem.”) Virg. perhaps did not distinguish the two meanings as sharply as we do: but the use of ‘lumen’ vv. 635, 663 confirms the old interpretation, as does the fact that elsewhere he uses ‘cassus lumine,’ ‘spoliatus lumine’ of the darkness not of the blind but of the dead.
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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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