[464] Tabulata is doubtless the flooring of the ‘turris,’ as in 12. 672, “flammis inter tabulata volutus Ad caelum undabat vertex turrimque tenebat.” Caesar B. G. 6. 29 speaks of “turris tabulatorum quattuor,” of four stories. ‘Summa’ is probably not to be pressed, as Henry rightly objects that Aeneas and his friends would be likely not to get into the tower and try to dislodge the top of it, but to stand on the roof of the palace and endeavour to overthrow the entire tower. Virg. does not tell us how many ‘tabulata’ there were: he merely says that they applied their leverage to the flooring, as affording a point in which implements might be inserted; and he may very well call this flooring ‘summa’ merely as being above or on the roof of the palace. ‘Labantis iuncturas’ is not a very strict expression, as the joining would not totter itself, though it would make the wall totter. ‘Altis’ is generally taken ‘high;’ but it may equally well mean ‘deep,’ the tower being overthrown from the bottom. ‘Sedibus’ then will be the foundation.
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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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