[269] It is questioned whether ‘torquet’ here refers to physical movement or to government. “Torquet qui sidera mundi” 9. 93 is for the first, “Cuncta tuo qui bella pater sub numine torques” 12. 180 for the other. If we must decide a question which probably did not present itself as sharply to Virg.'s mind as to ours, we shall perhaps do wisely in saying with Wagn. on 9. 93 that the physical sense is the prominent one here in ‘torquet caelum,’ the moral in ‘torquet terras.’ For ‘et terras’ Pal. and Gud. have ‘ac terram.’
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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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