[45] Limen, sc. ‘antri;’ whether identical with any of these doors we are not told. The Sibyl goes into the cave (comp. v. 77); Aeneas and the Trojans remain outside. ‘Poscere fata’ is explained by what follows, v. 52. The sacrifices had been performed, but prayer was still necessary to obtain the response, and this was the time for prayer, the god having already manifested himself. The words seem to mean ‘to ask Apollo for oracles,’ ‘fata’ being used as in 1. 382 &c. Comp. G. 3. 456, “meliora deos sedet omina poscens,” and possibly A. 3. 456, where however see note. Elsewhere, as in 7. 272 &c., the fates themselves are said ‘poscere.’ “Tempus poscere” 9. 12. For the construction see on G. 1. 213.
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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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