I have to thank my old friend Mr. James Rhoades for his kind permission to use his excellent verse translation of this part of the seventh book.

I have begun at line 601, where the supernatural action ends, and man's "scelerata insania belli" begins to rage. It was a bad war: a war against the human agent of the heaven-god and the idea of justice which he represented. Such a war was that of Milton's fallen angels: such in yet another sense is that into which the great German people has plunged Europe, rejoicing in its strength. Insano iuvat indulgere labori.

November 1, 1915.

W. W. F.

NOTE TO SECOND EDITION

The little book brought me many very pleasant letters, and many suggestions and criticisms, of which I have taken full advantage in reprinting. My thanks are especially due to Mr. A. L. Irvine of Charterhouse, the scholar to whom I owe the idea of writing these notes: to Professor Conway of Manchester: to my very old friend Mr. Hastings Crossley: to Mr. H. Broadbent of Eton: to Mr. H. P. Cholmeley of Forest Edge, Sussex: to Mr. J. R. Mills of Dundee: to Mr. A. M. Cook: and most of all to Mr. J. W. Mackail, from whom I never venture to differ without much misgiving.

KINGHAM,

February 9, 1918.

VIRGIL'S

GATHERING OF THE CLANS'

бог

AENEID VII. 601-817

(From the Oxford Text, 1904)

Mos erat Hesperio in Latio, quem protinus urbes Albanae coluere sacrum, nunc maxima rerum

Roma colit, cum prima movent in proelia Martem, sive Getis inferre manu lacrimabile bellum Hyrcanisve Arabisve parant, seu tendere ad Indos Auroramque sequi Parthosque reposcere signa: sunt geminae Belli portae (sic nomine dicunt) religione sacrae et saevi formidine Martis; centum aerei claudunt vectes aeternaque ferri 610 robora, nec custos absistit limine Ianus:

has, ubi certa sedet patribus sententia pugnae,
ipse Quirinali trabea cinctuque Gabino
insignis reserat stridentia limina consul,
ipse vocat pugnas; sequitur tum cetera pubes,
aereaque adsensu conspirant cornua rauco.
hoc et tum Aeneadis indicere bella Latinus.
more iubebatur tristisque recludere portas.
abstinuit tactu pater aversusque refugit
foeda ministeria, et caecis se condidit umbris.

TRANSLATION

(By James Rhoades)

THERE was a wonted rite in Latium's realm Hesperian, holy held from age to age

By Alba's cities, as to-day by Rome,

Earth's mightiest, when they rouse the god of war
To battle, whether against Getic foes
Intent to launch amain the dolorous fray,

Or Arabs, or Hyrcanians, or to march

On India's sons, or track the morning-star,

And from the Parthian their lost standards claim.
There are twin gates of War—so named and known—
By holy fear and terror of fell Mars

Made venerable: a hundred brazen bolts
Constrain them, and the eternal strength of iron,
Nor Janus on the threshold slacks his guard.
Here, be the fathers' will on battle bent,
The Consul in Quirinal robe arrayed

And Gabine cincture, the harsh-grinding valves
Himself unbars, himself invokes the fray,
Then all the war-host follow, and with one throat
The brazen clarions blare their hoarse assent.
Now too on this wise was Latinus bidden
War to proclaim against the sons of Troy,
Unclose the sullen portals. From their touch
The sire recoiled, turned from the loathed task
Shrinking, and shrouded him in eyeless gloom.

620 tum regina deum caelo delapsa morantis

impulit ipsa manu portas, et cardine verso belli ferratos rumpit Saturnia postis. ardet inexcita Ausonia atque immobilis ante; pars pedes ire parat campis, pars arduus altis pulverulentus equis furit; omnes arma requirunt. pars levis clipeos et spicula lucida tergent arvina pingui subiguntque in cote securis; signaque ferre iuvat sonitusque audire tubarum. quinque adeo magnae positis incudibus urbes 630 tela novant, Atina potens Tiburque superbum, Ardea Crustumerique et turrigerae Antemnae. tegmina tuta cavant capitum flectuntque salignas umbonum cratis; alii thoracas aënos

640

aut levis ocreas lento ducunt argento;

vomeris huc et falcis honos, huc omnis aratri
cessit amor; recoquunt patrios fornacibus ensis.
classica iamque sonant, it bello tessera signum.
hic galeam tectis trepidus rapit, ille frementis
ad iuga cogit equos, clipeumque auroque trilicem
loricam induitur fidoque accingitur ense.

Pandite nunc Helicona, deae, cantusque movete qui bello exciti reges, quae quemque secutae