[465] The change of tense in ‘inpulimus’ of course shows the rapidity of the action. With this use of ‘inpellere’ Wund. comp. 4. 22, “animumque labantem Inpulit,” Forb. Lucan 6. 35, “Exstruitur quod non aries inpellere saevus, Quod non ulla queat violenti machina belli.” ‘Ruinam trahit’ v. 631 and elsewhere. So perhaps “ducet ruinam” Hor. 2 Od. 17. 9, “trahere” and “ducere” giving the notion of height, as elsewhere of length. The early commentators remark on the acceleration of the movement of the verse.
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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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