[263, 264] ‘E’ is omitted in Rom. “Histri tela manu iacientes” Eunius A. 438. ‘Qualis’ &c.: the sudden shout and rush of arrows from the wall is compared to the noisy sweep through the air of a flock of cranes flying from the tempest. Virg. is thinking of the beginning of Il. 3, but he has applied the simile in a different way from Hom., and has as usual condensed him greatly. There is also a reminiscence of Lucr. 4.181, “Ille gruum quam Clamor in aetheriis dispersus nubibus austri,” where see Munro. With ‘sub nubibus atris’ comp. Il. 23. 874, ῞γψι δ᾽ ὑπὸ νεφέων εἶδε τρήρωνα πέλειαν, and 2. 516, “praecipites atra ceu tempestate columbae.” Virg. may have intended to translate Hom.'s ἠέριαι, Il. 3. 7, which in G. 1. 375 he renders “aeriae.”
This text is part of:
John Conington. P. Vergili Maronis opera. P. Vergili Maronis Opera. The works of. Virgil. , with a Commentary by John Conington, M.A. and Henry Nettleship, M.A. London. Whittaker and Co., Ave Maria Lane;. George Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1876.
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