[225] Tellus extrema refuso Oceano, the farthest land against which Ocean beats, or, from which Ocean is beaten back:—‘refuso Oceano’ being taken as an ablative of quality or attributive ablative with ‘tellus.’ The Ocean, as in Hom., is supposed to encircle the earth, the extremity of which accordingly repels it. For ‘refuso’ see note on G. 2. 163, “Iulia qua ponto longe sonat unda refuso.” Virg. had in his mind Britain or Thule, though of course he could not put those names into the mouth of Ilioneus. ‘Submovet’ and ‘dirimit,’ separate from the rest of the world: comp. with Cerda, “penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos” E. 1. 67; Prop. 3. 1. 17, “et si qua extremis tellus se subtrahit oris.” Wagn. and Forb. think that the Ocean is said to be ‘refusus,’ “quatenus ambiens insulam (Britain or Thule) in semet refundi videtur;” and so Heyne, after Turnebus, interprets the expression like ἀψόρ᾽ῥοος Ὠκέανος in Hom. (Il. 18. 399 &c.), the only difference being that this last view supposes the Ocean to encircle the earth. But these interpretations will not agree with the clearly parallel passage G. 2. 163.
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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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