[247] There are several cases of this kind of omen in Homer. See Il. 12. 200 foll., where, the Trojans being about to attack the ships, an eagle appears with a serpent in its talons, which it drops into the midst of the host. The omen is really a bad one, but is disregarded by Hector in spite of Polydamas' warning. In Od. 2. 147—156 two eagles appear fighting to the agora in Ithaca, the sign being explained favourably for Telemachus by Halitherses and for the suitors by Eurymachus. Comp. the scene in the house of Menelaus Od. 15. 160 foll., and the dream of Penelope about her geese and the eagle Od. 19. 537—553. A translation by Cicero of the passage in the twelfth Iliad is given in Cic. de Div. 1. 47. 106. ‘Fulvus rubra’ Med. ‘rubra aethra’ is from Enn. Ann. 417, “Interea fax Occidit, Oceanumque rubra tractim obruit aethra,” where it apparently = a red train of light. ‘Rubra’ is an exaggerated term as applied to the ordinary light of day. The words ‘fulvus ales’ . . . ‘litoreas aves’ are from Il. 15. 690 foll., Ἀλλ᾽ ὥστ᾽ ὀρνίθων πετεηνῶν αἰετὸς αἴθων Ἔθνος ἐφορμᾶται ποταμὸν πάρα βοσκομενάων, χηνῶν ἢ γεράνων ἢ κύκνων δουλιχοδείρων. For ‘Iovis ales’ Pal. has ‘acer (for sacer) ales’ from 11. 721.
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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. 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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