[468] Hoc metu = “metu huius rei:” see on 2. 171. This figure is not uncommon in Livy and Tacitus: comp. e. g. Livy 21. 46, “Numidae . . . ab tergo se ostendunt. Is pavor perculit Romanos.” ‘Concussa mentem’ like “concussus animum” 5. 869. ‘Virago’ (“mulier quae viri animum habet” Serv.) is applied either to a very strong woman (“ancillam viraginem aliquam” Plaut. Merc. 2. 3. 78), or to a warlike goddess or nymph (Enn. A. 510, “Paluda virago:” comp. Ov. M. 2. 765, 6. 130, where it is used of Athena). Heyne s wrong in identifying it in meaning with ‘virgo.’
[469] So Il. 5. 835 foll. Athene Σθένελον μὲν ἀφ᾽ ἵππων ὦσε χαμᾶζε, Χειρὶ πάλιν ἐρύσασ᾽ . . . . . Ἡ δ᾽ ἐς δίφρον ἔβαινε παραὶ Διομήσεα δῖον Ἐμμεμαυῖα θεά. . . . . Λάζετο δὲ μάστιγα καὶ ἡνία Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη. ‘Media inter lora,’ Wagn. thinks may mean “in media aurigatione,” which is hardly likely: Forb. adduces such expressions as “media inter pocula,” “media inter carmina,” which are not really parallel. The words probably mean that Metiscus has the reins round his body, as seems to have been generally the case. See on 1. 476 and comp. Soph. Electr. 747, Eur. Hippol. 1236. Metiscus is pushed from between the reins, and falls first on to and then off the pole (‘lapsum temone’). This line is imitated by the author of the Epitome to the Iliad, v. 514, “media inter lora rotasque Volvitur.” (Wagn.)
[470] Juv. imitates ‘lapsum temone’ 4. 126, “de temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus.” ‘Reliquit’ Med. originally, Pal., Rom., Gud., and two other of Ribbeck's cursives: ‘relinquit’ Med. corrected and Verona fragm., and so Heyne, followed by Wagn. and Forb. Ribbeck rightly restores ‘reliquit’ on the balance of authority. The perfect too gives a better sense: she pushes him over, and he is left lying on the ground.
[471] Subit, comes in his place. “Undantia lora” 5. 146.
[472] Gerens as in 1. 315, “Virginis os habitumque gerens et virginis arma.”
[473] Domini divitis from Catull. 59 (61). 88, “Divitis domini hortulo.” The scene is probably from a country villa. The simile is characteristic of Virg. and apparently original.
[475] Juv. 5. 143 in imitation of this passage: “Ipse loquaci Gaudebit nido.” ‘Nidi’ = young as in G. 1. 414., 4. 17, A. 5. 214.
[476] Porticibus vacuis 2. 761; “Porticibus longis fugit et vacua atria lustrat” 2. 528.
[477] Lersch A. V. § 72 thinks that ‘stagna’ may mean the “compluvium:” it is much more probable that it means such tanks as are described by Columella 1. 5, as sometimes necessary for country villas. “Agri, aedificia, lacus, loca, stagna, possessiones,” quoted from a law by Cic. Leg. Agr. 3. 2. 7. Med. a m. p. gives ‘sonant’ for ‘sonat,’ and ‘medio’ for ‘medios.’
[478] Cursu some inferior copies for ‘curru,’ a common confusion. “Obit . . . omnia visu” 10. 447.
[479] Ostentat Med. corrected, Pal., Verona fragm. (both by a second hand), and Gud. ‘Ostendit’ Med. originally, with two of Ribbeck's cursives.
[480] Nec conferre manum: “cum Aenea, nam alios persequitur” Serv. Virg. may be thinking of Il. 20. 376 foll., where Apollo keeps Hector from meeting Achilles.
[481] Totos Verona fragm. for ‘tortos.’ ‘Legit’ literally picks out: so 9. 393, “simul et vestigia retro Observata legit.” ‘Obvius,’ to meet him. The line resembles v. 743 below (of Turnus), “Nunc huc, inde huc incertos inplicat orbis.”
[482] “Disiecta per agmina impetum ruentis currus declarat, quo dissipati cedunt ordines” Heyne. Comp. “disiectique duces desolatique manipli” 11. 870.
[483] Voce vocat, note on 4. 680.
[484] Aeneas, himself on foot, tries to overtake Turnus' horses by running: so Camilla, 11. 718, “pernicibus ignea plantis Transit equum cursu.” ‘Temptavit fugam cursu,’ put their speed to trial, tried to surpass it, by running. ‘Alipedes’ 7. 277.
[485] Adversos Med. corrected, Gud., and another of Ribbeck's cursives: the same confusion as in v. 464. “‘Aversos retorsit:’ retorsit et avertit” Serv. Rather the converse, “avertit et retorsit.”
[486] “Heu quid agat?” 4. 283. Heyne put a comma instead of a mark of interrogation after ‘agat,’ giving a most awkward sentence. ‘Vario,’ conflicting. ‘Fluctuat aestu’ (the metaphor taken from the shifting of the tide) 4. 532, and 8. 19, a passage much resembling this. Comp. “sententia aestuat” Hor. 1 Ep. 1. 99.
[488] For the form of sentence ‘huic— uti—horum unum’ see on v. 270 above. ‘Forte’ is not uncommon in Virg.'s description of arms or dress: comp. v. 206 above.
[489] “Praefixa hastilia ferro” 5. 557. ‘Lenta’ brings out their lightness and pliancy in connexion with his nimbleness (‘levis cursu’): comp. 7. 164., 11. 650.
[490] Dirigit Gud., with two other of Ribbeck's cursives: ‘derigit’ Ribbeck rightly on the balance of authority. ‘Derigere’ with dat., as 10. 401.
[491] “Seque in sua colligit arma” 10. 412 (note), whence Pal. and originally Gud. have ‘colligit’ here. Ὑφίζανον κύκλοις of warriors covering themselves with their shields, Eur. Phoen. 1382 (Cerda).
[492] Apicem 10. 270 note. ‘Incita’ of speed as in v. 534 below. This line, according to Macrob. Sat. 6. 1, was modelled on a verse of Enn. (A. 397), “Tamen inde volans (al. ‘induvolans’) secum abstulit hasta Insigne.” ‘Summam’ Rom. for ‘summum.’
[493] Vertice may be taken indifferently of the head, or the top of the helmet.
[494] Insidiis subactus simply = compelled by their treachery: not necessarily as Heyne says, “domitus, victus, de ira propter insidias quibus petitum se viderat.” ‘Subacti’ two of Ribbeck's cursives originally.
[495] Equos currumque the horses and chariot of Turnus: see v. 485 above. ‘Sensit’ Pal., Rom., Verona fragm., Gud., and two other of Ribbeck's cursives: so rightly Heyne and Ribbeck: ‘sentit’ Med., and so Wagn. ‘Sensit’ gives the best sense: ‘when he has seen once for all—he attacks them:’ so in the passage quoted by Wagn. on 4. 474, “Ergo abi concepit furias . . . tempus secum ipsa modumque Exigit;” 7. 541, “Ubi sanguine bellum Imbuit et primae commisit funera pagnae, Deserit Hesperiam.” “‘Referri:’ tetro ferri” Serv.
[496] Testatur Pal. and Rom., and so Heins. and Heyne, after Pierius. ‘Testatus,’ which gives the better sense, was rightly restored by Wagn. There is a similar variation 7. 593, “Multa deos aurasque pater testatus inanis, Frangimur heu fatis, inquit, ferimurque procella.” ‘Laesi foederis aras,’ the altars where the treaty was broken.
[497, 498] Tamen Pal. for ‘tandem’ ‘Marte secundo’ 10. 21., 11. 899.
[499] “Et hic moderate locutus est. Nam Ennius ait (A. 464), ‘irarum effunde quadrigas.’” (Serv.) ‘Effundere habenas:’ Livy 37. 20, “quam potuit effusissimis habenis . . . invadit.” (Cerda.)
[500-553] Ἀριστεῖαι of Aeneas and Turnus. Aeneas kills Sucro, Tanais, Cethegus, Murranus, and Cupencus: Turnus, Amycus and his brother Diores, the Lycian brothers (? Clarus and Themon of 10. 126), Cretheus and Aeolus.
