Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 3.djvu/360

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That Virgil uses in the word sunto a verbum juris, a form of speak­ing on Solemn and Religious Occasions: Livy does the like. Note also that Dido puts her self into the Habitus Gabinus, which was the girding her self round with one Sleeve of her Vest, which is also ac­cording to the Roman Pontifical, in this dreadful Ceremony, as Livy has observ'd: which is a farther confirmation of this Conjecture. So that upon the whole matter, Dido only doubts whether she shou'd die before she had taken her Revenge, which she rather wish'd: But considering that this devoting her self was the most certain and in­fallible way of compassing her Vengeance, she thus exclaims;

Sic, sic juvat ire sub umbras: Hauriat hunc oculis ignem crudelis ab alto Dardanus, & nostrae secum ferat omnia mortis.

Those Flames from far, may the false Trojan view; Those boding Omens his base Flight pursue.

Which Translation I take to be according to the Sense of Virgil. I should have added a Note on that former Verse.

Which in the Edition of Heinsius is thus Printed. Nunc te facta im­pia tangunt? The word facta instead of fata, is reasonably alter'd. For Virgil says afterwards, she dy'd not by Fate, nor by any deserv'd Death. Nec Fato, meritâ nec