[417] ‘Trifauci,’ apparently from ‘trifaux,’ is found nowhere else. With ‘trifauci latratu,’ an expression very similar to many in Greek poetry, we may perhaps comp. “tripectora vis Geryonai” Lucr. 5. 28. The name of Cerberus is not mentioned in Hom., who simply speaks of κύων, but occurs Hesiod, Theog. 311.
[418] Adverso, fronting them as they came from the landing-place. ‘Inmanis’ with ‘recubans.’ Comp. v. 423 below, and 3. 631, “iacuitque per antrum Inmensus.”
[419] Cerberus has snakes for hair (comp. Hor. 3 Od. 11. 17), so that when he is angry his snakes bristle.
[420] The μελιτοῦττα was a funeral offering, and there seems reason for thinking that it was supposed to be given to Cerberus. Suidas s. v. μελιτοῦττα says, ἰστέον ὅτι μελιτοῦττα ἐδίδοτο τοῖς νεκροῖς, ὡς εἰς τὸν Κέρβερον. Another belief was that it was given to the dogs that accompanied Hecate (v. 257): see Dissen on Tibull. 1. 2. 54. Those who went into Trophonius' cave took it with them as a sop to the serpents, Aristoph. Clouds 507. There may be also a reference, as Heyne thinks, to the drugging of the dragon of Colchis by Jason: indeed a reference to Apoll. R. 4. 152 foll. will show that Virg. has had the whole passage in his mind, though Medea there does not give a cake, but sprinkles drugs over the dragon's eyes. ‘Soporatam:’ see on 5. 855. Turn. 28. 45 wished to read ‘saporatam’ from one or two MSS. of Virg. and of Priscian, who quotes the passage (p. 705 P), honey not being a soporific: but ‘melle et medicatis frugibus’ are to be taken together, and ‘saporatus’ is a word of no authority. The cake is made of honey and wheat (‘frugibus’), with soporific drugs, such as poppy-seed. See on 4. 486, G. 4. 505. The cake is called ‘offa,’ a fragment, as ‘offae’ are frequently said to be thrown to dogs. Cerda comp. Plaut. Mil. 1. 1. 49, where it is used of the broken meat given to parasites.
[421] Rabida of hunger, like “inproba ventris rabies” 2. 356.
[422] Obiectam after ‘obiicit,’ like ‘auso’ after ‘ausi’ v. 624. ‘Inmania terga resolvit’ is a translation of “δολιχὴν ἀνελύετ᾽ ἄκανθαν” Apoll. R. 4. 150. Forb. comp. “somno vinoque soluti Procubuere” 9. 189.
[423] Fusus G. 2. 527 &c. “Corpora fundat humi” 1. 193. ‘Toto—antro:’ “τὰ δ᾽ ἀπείρονα πολλὸν ὀπίσσω Κύκλα πολυπρέμνοιο δἰ ἐξ ὕλης τετάνυστο” Apoll. R. 4. 160. See on v. 418 above.
[424] “Occupat Aeneas aditum” v. 635, where it seems to mean little more than ‘adit.’ Here there is doubtless a notion of a movement quickly executed. ‘Occupat aditum’ is not unlike “invade viam” v. 260. ‘Sepulto’ of sleep, as in 2. 265 (note), where “somno” is expressed. Serv. has an extraordinary etymology, “sine pulsu, i. e. motu.”
[425] Evadere with acc. of the space passed over 2. 731. ‘Inremeabilis’ (5. 591) is rightly taken by Heyne as an ordinary epithet of the Styx, “from whose bourne no traveller returns,” not, as Serv. proposes for an alternative, as indicating that Aeneas himself was to return another way.
[426-439] ‘The first place in the world of spirits is occupied by infants, who wail for the life they never enjoyed. Then come those who have been put to death by unjust sentences: these have their dooms revised. Next are suicides, who bitterly repent their rashness, and wish to be on earth again, in vain.’
