[814] Quaeres is the reading of all Ribbeck's MSS., ‘quaeret’ of one or two inferior copies, followed by most editors. Either would stand very well, ‘quaeret’ referring to Aeneas, ‘quaeres’ to Venus, who would gladly be identified with him in his care for the fleet. The latter is less obvious, without being at the same time less Virgilian, and external authority is, I agree with Henry and Ribbeck, decisive in its favour. Comp. Venus' language 1. 250 foll., “Nos . . . Navibus . . . . amissis . . . . Prodimur,” and the assurance she afterwards gives Aeneas of the safety of his fleet ib. 390 foll. (see also ib. 584, 585.) ‘Amissum quaeres’ is like “sublatam ex oculis quaerimus” Hor. 3 Od. 24. 32, comp. by Forb. So 1. 217, “amissos . . . requirunt.” The person referred to is of course Palinurus, not, as Serv. thinks, Misenus, curiously fancying v. 814 to point to the latter, v. 815 to the former.
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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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