[319] Virg. after the Roman fashion identifies the Italian Saturnus with the Greek Kronos, who was dethroned and expelled from heaven by Zeus, and has given the fable a more Latin character, as well as gratified his own love of antiquarian etymology, by deriving ‘Latium’ from “lateo,” the hiding-place of Saturn. Serv. says Varro gave the same etymology, though for a different reason, “quod latet Italia inter iuga Alpium et Appennini.” ‘Primus’ may be taken in its obvious sense, ‘primus venit’ being i. q. “primus advena fuit” opp. to “indigenae:” or it may virtually = “tandem,” as in E. 1. 44 &c. ‘Aetherio Olympo’ 6. 579.
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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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