[180] Ulysses climbs a rock to reconnoitre the territory of Circe, Od. 10. 148. The prep. in ‘conscendo’ implies energy or effort, ‘scales.’ For this force of “cum” in composition, see Key, Lat. Gr. 1323. Serv. rightly points out that the chief is painted as occupied with nobler cares; as in 6. 9, where he goes to consult the Sibyl while the rest are kindling their fire, and scouring the woods. The stags are an accidental piece of good fortune (‘tela gerebat Achates’), which serves as a comfort and an omen of further comfort to the fleet. ‘Omnem’ belongs more properly to ‘pelago’ than to ‘prospectum,’ which denotes rather the-faculty or opportunity than the view or prospect in our sense. ‘Prospectum petere’ is found in Catull. 62. (64.) 241. Comp. also Pacuv. Chrys. fr. 9 (Ribbeck), “incipio saxum temptans scandere Verticem, summusque in omnis partis prospectum aucupo.”
[181] Si quem=‘sicubi.’ Comp., besides v. 8, “quo numine laeso,” the more exact parallel Aesch. Ag. 55, ὕπατος δ᾽ ἀΐων ἤ τις Ἀπόλλων for ἤ που, ‘Apollo it may be.’ ‘Si,’ in the hope that. ‘Si qua,’ the second reading of Gud., &c., is mentioned by Charisius and Serv., was once read in the common texts, and is now preferred by Weidner.
[182] Biremis. It is an anachronism to speak of biremes or, as Virg. in 5. 119, of triremes, in the Homeric age.
[183] Arma is rightly taken by Wagn. and Wund. in its strict sense, comparing 8. 92, “Miratur nemus insuetum fulgentia longa Scuta virum fluvio pictasque innare carinas,” and Val. Fl. 1. 404. Comp. also 10. 80.
[184] “In conspectu,” 10. 260. In the parallel passage Od. 9. 154, Ulysses kills goats. It is needlessly inquired whether there are deer in Africa. Shaw, Travels, p. 243, says there are: others interpret ‘cervi’ as antelopes.
[185] Armenta, though strictly used of oxen, is applied 3. 540 to horses, and by Pliny, 7. 2, to apes. See on G. 3. 286.
[188] Fidus quae tela gerebat Achates is condemned by Peerlkamp, and regarded by Ribbeck as a ‘stop-gap’ (“tibicen”） which Virg. would have removed in correcting the poem. Really however it marks the accidental character of the affair, which is important, as remarked on v. 180. ‘Quae tela’ follows ‘arcum sagittasque,’ as “quo litore” follows “locum” in 7. 477, comp. by Gossrau.
[189] We should probably connect ‘alta’ with ‘cornibus arboreis.’ For ‘arboreis’ comp. E. 7. 30, “ramosa cornua cervi.” The antlers, of course, denote the age and size of the stags. ‘Ferentis’ implies conscious dignity, as in v. 503, “talem se laeta ferebat.”
[190] Volgus of beasts G. 3. 469.
[191] Miscet, breaks up the array (‘agmen’). Weidner well comp. 10. 721, “Hunc ubi miscentem longe media agmina vidit.” ‘Turbam’ is said rather proleptically. There may be an allusion to the rout of an army whose chiefs are killed. Connect ‘agens telis,’ as in 4. 71. ‘Agens’ occurs alone in a similar connexion G. 3. 412, where also “turbabis” may illustrate ‘turbam’ here. ‘Nemora inter frondea:’ comp. 4. 70.
[192] Victor continues the imagery of a battle.
[193] Jahn on 5. 347 is right in saying that the sense of ‘fundat—aequet’ in this passage must be subjective, as it cannot be indefinite; ‘Aeneas refuses to stop till—.’ The best MSS. (fragm. Vat., Med., Rom., Gud.) have ‘humo,’ and so Non. p. 312, who however quotes the line to illustrate ‘fundo:’ ‘humi’ is supported by most copies of Serv., and some of Virg., including one of Ribbeck's cursives corrected. But the universal practice is in favour of ‘humi’ for ‘on the ground,’ while ‘humo’ is ‘from’ or ‘in the ground.’ In the parallel instances 2. 380., 5. 78, 481., 6. 423., 9. 754., 10. 697., 11. 640, 665, the best MSS. seem to read ‘humi’ without variation, though Arusianus quotes 2. 380 with ‘humo.’ Wagn. thinks the elision was the cause of the error, as in 3. 670., 5. 502 (and v. 104 above), where wrong readings have similarly been introduced into first-class MSS.; it is possible too that a transcriber may have recollected G. 2. 460. Ovid however (M. 4. 261) has “sedit humo nuda,” though there one MS. gives “humi nudae.” ‘Numerum’ &c.: Ulysses kills nine goats for each ship with one additional for his own.
[194] Hinc, ‘then.’ ‘Portum’ is the landing-place where the crew was encamping. ‘Socios partitur in omnis:’ he gives each ship a stag, in which each man shares equally. Forb. remarks that Aeneas must first have summoned his comrades to help him to carry the seven stags; an instance of Virg.'s brevity in narration.
[195] The order seems to be ‘deinde dividit vina quae,’ &c., as there is no other way of making sense of ‘deinde.’ There are other passages in Virg. where ‘deinde’ may be regarded as out of place, 3. 609., 5. 14, 400., 7. 135, but none where the necessity is at once so harsh and so inevitable as here. ‘Onerarat cadis,’ ‘had stowed in casks,’ instead of the usual phrase “onerarat cados vinis.” Wagn. quotes 3. 465, “stipatque carinis Ingens argentum;” and 8. 180, “onerantque canistris Dona.” The gift of wine is from Od. 9. 197.
[196] Heros is in apposition to Acestes, not the nom. to ‘dividit.’ Comp. 8. 464., 12. 902, and vv. 412, 691 below. It denotes the noble courtesy of the donor. Pierius' Medicean read ‘hospes.’
