[252] ‘Poising himself on even wings’ is generally understood to be an expression for ‘pausing in his flight,’ as the wings would then appear more level than when the flier was at full speed. So in 5. 657., 9. 14, “paribus se sustulit alis” is explained as marking the beginning of flight. But it may be questioned whether the words mean more than ‘equal,’ ‘well-balanced wings,’ so as to be applicable to any moment in Mercury's flight.
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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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