Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 3.djvu/379

Rh Sages to Turnus, that Atinas is join'd with Messapus.


 * Soli, pro portis, Messapus & acer Atinas
 * Sustentant aciem.

In general I observe, not only in this Æneid, but in all the sixth last Books, that Æneas is never seen on Horse-back, and but once before as I remember, in the Fourth when he hunts with Dido. The Reason of this, if I guess aright, was a secret Compliment which the Poet made to his Country-men the Romans; the strength of whose Armies consist­ed most in Foot; which, I think, were all Romans and Italians. But their Wings or Squadrons, were made up of their Allies, who were Foreigners.

Æneid the 12th. Lines 100, 101, 102. At this, a flood of Tears Lavinia shed; A crimson Blush her beauteous Face o'er-spread; Varying her Cheeks, by turns, with white and red.

Amata, ever partial to the Cause of Turnus, had just before desir'd him, with all manner of earnestness, not to ingage his Rival in single Fight; which was his present Resolution. Virgil, though in favour of his Heroe, he never tells us directly, that Lavinia preferr'd Turnus to Æneas, yet has insinuated this preference twice before. For mark in the 7th Æneid, she left her Father, who had promis'd her to Æneas without asking her consent: And follow'd her Mother into the Woods,