[698] The deities of the East are represented as fighting against the Roman gods like the giants against the gods in the old mythology. Comp. Hor. 3 Od. 4. 53 foll., which resembles this passage. ‘Omnigenum’ is generally supposed to be for “omnigenorum:” “omnigenus” however is of very doubtful authority, having been removed by Lachm. from Lucr. 2.759 and other passages where it had been introduced against the bulk of MS. testimony. Priscian p. 732 derives ‘omnigenum’ here from “omnigena,” which, though not found elsewhere, is perhaps more in accordance with analogy: but the word would mean ‘all-begetting’ or ‘allbegotten,’ not, as the sense seems to require, “ex omni genere.” On the whole it seems best to suppose that the word is “omnigenus,” formed from the adverbial “omne genus” or “omnigenus” (see Lachm. on Lucr. 2.759), as Appuleius forms “omnimodus” from “omnimodis.” The first reading of Med. is ‘nigenum,’ which Lachm. on Lucr. 5.440—445 thinks may point to “Niligenum:” and so Hoffinann conj. “amnigenum.” But the old reading is more forcible, expressing a Roman's contempt for the heterogeneous assemblies of deities. ‘Deum monstra’ like “monstra ferarum” 6. 285, “monstrum hominis” Ter. Eun. 4. 4. 29. We have had the combination in another sense 3. 58. ‘Latrator’ as having a dog's head. Prop. 4. 11. 41 has “Ausa Iovi nostro latrantem opponere Anubin.” He had seen the Aeneid before publication, as Heyne reminds us.
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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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