[578] Comp. the description of the tree 4. 445 foll. Virg., as Cerda points out, has been indebted for some of his language to Lucr. 4.416 foll., where the deceptive appearance of reflections in water is spoken of, “Despectum praebet sub terras impete tanto, A terris quantum caeli patet altus hiatus.” Here, as in some other places (see note on G. 2. 249), we are admitted to see something of what passed in Virg.'s mind in the process of composition. The occurrence of ‘hiatibus’ in v. 576 cannot be unconnected with the presence of “hiatus” in Lucr. l. c., so that we may imagine either that having talked of ‘hiatibus’ Virg. was reminded of “hiatus” in Lucr. and so of the whole passage, or that having imitated the passage he was led to recast v. 576 so as to introduce ‘hiatibus.’ There is of course much scope for fancy in this kind of criticism; but a subtle imitator like Virg. may be said specially to invite it, and those who are themselves accustomed to composition will be interested in pursuing it, even though indisposed to build much on its apparent results.
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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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