The Bucolics, Georgics, and Aeneid; with English notes, a life of Virgil, and remarks upon scanning

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 Excerpt: ...intends to say, You both deserve the prize, and so does every one who can sing of love like you; but as Damoetas had complained of the pains of love, and Menalcas had spoken of it disdainfully, offering to give up his mistress, he expresses it more at length,--" and whoever (like Damoetas) shall be diffident in sweet love, or (like Menalcas) shall find it bitter.", 111. It does not seem likely that this is a metaphorical expression, addressed to Damoetas and Menalcas, and implying that he had heard enough to satisfy him; for in that case Palaemon would have commenced with these words instead of finishing with them. They are rather to be taken in their literal sense; he had come out in order to superintend the irrigation of his meadows, which has been going on during the progress of this contest; he now resumes his occupation, and, turning to his servants, addresses to them the order contained in the last line. ECLOGUE IV.--POLLIO. Argument.--Among all the more civilized nations of antiquity, as well as among the Jews, there was a vague expectation of the coming of an age of peace and happiness, and, connected with it, of the advent of a great king or hero. This expectation naturally became more vivid during times of national calamity and great suffering, and during the last years of the republic, the Romans, longing for relief from the unspeakable horrors of the civil wars, were so eager for announcements of this kind, that Augustus collected and burned more than two thousand volumes, containing the predictions of self-styled prophets. The Sibylline verses contained similar proph-' ecies, which have by many of the early Christian, and some distinguished later writers, been supposed to bear reference to our Saviour. Virgil has made them the subject...