Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 2.djvu/65

 begins to appear before Day-light. The Achro­nical rising, on the contrary, is when it appears at the close of Day, and in opposition of the Sun's diurnal Course.

The Heliacal rising of Orion, is at present computed to be about the sixth of July; and about that time it is, that he either causes, or presages Tempests on the Seas.

Segrais has observ'd farther, that when Anna Counsels Dido to stay Æneas during the Winter; she speaks also of Orion,

If therefore Ilioneus, according to our Supposition, understand the Heliacal rising of Orion: Anna must mean the Achronical, which the different Epithetes given to that Constellation, seem to manifest. Ilio­neus calls him nimbosus, Anna aquosus. He is tempestuous in the Summer when he rises Heliacally, and Rainy in the Winter when he rises Achronically. Your Lordship will pardon me for the frequent repetition of these cant words; which I cou'd not avoid in this abbreviation of Segrais; who I think deserves no little commendation in this new Criticism. I have yet a word or two to say of Virgil's Machines, from my own observation of them. He has imitated those of Homer, but not Copied them. It was establish'd long before this time, in the Roman Religion as well as in the Greek; that there were Gods; and both Nations, for the most part, worshipp'd the same Deities; as did also the Trojans: From whom the Romans, I suppose, wou'd ra­ther be thought to derive the Rites of their Religion, than from the Grecians; because they thought themselves descended from them. Each of those Gods had his proper Office, and the chief of them their particu­lar Attendants. Thus Jupiter had in pro-