[283] Diripuere aras like “diripuere focos” 9. 75. The tense is perf., not aorist. They pull the altars in pieces to get fire-brands: comp. 5. 660, (matres) “Conclamant, rapiuntque focis penetralibus ignem: Pars spoliant aras, frondem ac virgulta facesque Coniiciunt.” Pal. and Gud. originally have ‘et’ for ‘it.’ ‘It caelo’ can hardly here = ‘it ad caelum’ as in 5. 451 (note); if so, the words ‘tempestas’ and ‘imber’ in the next line would make a confusion of metaphor: ‘caelo’ must therefore = “per caelum,” which also suits ‘toto’ better. Comp. G. 1. 474, “Armorum sonitum toto Germania caelo Audiit:” comp. 3. 515, &c. The words are perhaps from Lucr. 4.168, “Cum fuerit liquidissima caeli Tempestas, per quam subito fit turbida foede.”
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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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