The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-07
THE TOMB
OF VIRGIL.

ftpe" ..,,.,
We thirk visit to Naples h9wey,e nr
compIcfc 20 any thoughtful rcholer, OF
true lover OF the classics In poetry WIZ.
ent taking stroll str sa e ros'pPo which IS
shown tho tomb OF he great p9et. n es,c
il erected little dorned buiidinE. VIM, na
inches IN IT, surrcunaea w,,h mia mace s OF
all that was mortal OF Publius ylfs'ius
Marc. Here the glorious sunlgnt. tne
warm, genial Hight Of an Italian sun ,yr
nineteen centuries has warned ,a .ne ever so
swoetly bloom through a1l the ages Win
the undying fragrance OF Immortal poesy.
After most careful examination we
were unable 70 a,segse or spitaph. Do
natus says Virgil composed mis- own cp'-
MA Ia me gcnuit, calabri rapuere,
pa,,benope' cocini pascua, rura, duccs."
We think II very probable such an w..
fanh Vas written. IL could nave peeh
done with the greatest truth MN hu p ro
priety By the poet slnGe tr, ~ J in every
respoct In it's statements, both az IT,
CARDS facts In his life from blrth 10
death, and In the scope OF hls VI noets.
whose genius had no limitations as 10
time place and subject.
Virgil died at the age Of ffty-one years,
In September or the year " D. -. 80
dcath occurred al Brundusinm. on ms
wav back from a visit to Greece. ii's
body was brought for burial 70 tnat
Naples he loved 40 wei. Whether ms
grave lies In the exact spot no" hnown
TO travellers is not really certain, but we
have no reason TO doubt the tomb marks
the real site OF his final resting place
Surely the location is fitting enough,
The western terminus Of that wonueslui
and picturesque chiaja (or quay. tnht
x.,it
fair bay, Just enoHSn out OK the cry
and I'm the country 10 combine the charms
OF both, where We brYathed an ar OF
gentle warmth. filled with the irsgranSss
OF thousand flowers. the odor OF whice
was increased by tho slow evapordt'os
OF the night dews undor the first rays OF
the rising sun OF n July morning. ana
rat glorious sky above U.s. a pf's,,, The Tho
ailvcry waves Of the bay, whilst right ana
left the whole 81 tho scenery we bcheiu
family through a luminous mist. NC
thought this almost fairyland THIS moro
than Arcadian realm, with the SWEEP
and almost holy feelings that contr2leo
and affected us must have had the
influence also upon the nature and genius
Of the poet when he lived and bre lied
tho same atmosphere anu looked upoH
the same scenery 80 long ago:
Az we walked slowly back into the
beautiful, picturesque and busy city our
thoughts continually reverucd to the auiet,
lovely spot we had le,t, most uen was fay
receiving the earthly rcIpains OF him VINO
wrote OF himself. "Cecini pascua, rura'
ducce"
For he was tho true poot of Nature
in an her beauty. and gentleness. and
* andeur. and he was also the grand
poet who sung Of warriors and heroes
who were valiant In leaders IN
warm that oldcn tifnc-"in the brave
days OF old" And many were the memo
rios OF our boyhood and school-boy days.
when we vert charmed with the adven-
turour, stirring, warlike story OF the
"Aenesd." that Fuggestod themselves by
the visit made and enjoyed no much.
IL may not be nmiss IN this connection
20 tax your patience for moment 10
submit an idea or 30 about the poct. his
great cpic--thc "Acneid" and its hero.
Aeneea II has recently been our pleas
ure TO reread the "Aencid," and, while
wa wore as over impressed with the won
dcrful genius OF the Mantuan poet, we
no longer cherish our boyhood'a admira-
ton for Aoncas ns tho model horo. lie
certainly lacked some OF the heroic quail
tees that old Homer gives 60 Achilles
and dozen other leaders who fouRht
under the walls Of Troy. The 'llnd
doubtless had unlimited charms TO tho
mind ana heart OF Virgil. 80 much 80
that his poetic temperament heartily APP
| prcciated md admired all the fascinatons
| of such a wonderful production, and he
| evidently knew and felt. by the prompt
| lnea of his real genius and fervid imapi-
| nation that this absorbing Tale OF Troy
| could be lengthenod with sequel and
| further challenge tho admiration of the
| world For nineteen hundred years the
| charming. heroic Atory has been lovingly
r'pentcd and fondly admired by scholars
| OF every cline. all Of which fully tcstl-
| hes TO his success. Virgil has always
| stood sin tho front ranks Of the Latin
| rCcts We are I'm the habit Of regarding
| him as the representative poet of tho
| Romans as much so ~ we look upon
| Homer ms the poet OF the Greeks. And
| I'm the same connection or our mutuni
| admiration for both, The genius OF both
| IN presented 10 us I'm rolatius the story OF
| Troy getting their heroes from the siege
| and fall OF the heroic old city our poet.
| it rs true takes up and renews the sirnin
| "A thousand years after the "Iliad" and
| odyssey" first thrilled the hearts OF their
| hearers I'm that olden time, long ere the
| mother wolf
| "In Mars cave snplnely laid.
| Around her udders, undismoycd,
| The gamesome infants hung,
| While she. hor loose neck backward
| Caressod them fondly. one by one.
| And shaped them with her tongue"
This history az these home born deli
| tics OF mortal birth" may have tempted
| the poet 90 weave into song the greatness
| OF his own nation and race. dating a now
| era, inauguraiing that golden period no
refers to IN the fourth and eighth deca-
| logue addressed 60 Polio zone OF his
| friends aud patrons), when hc secs, with
| prophetic ken
Another Argo bear her horo-crcw.
Another Tephys steer, sun wars shall be.
| new Achilles for a second Troy"
''ln rhc "Acnsidr we readily see COM
| blnation OF the marvellous sequel follow
| ing the exploits OF Ag3mcmnon and his
Creek warriors up to the fatal night that
| Troy fell into Tho hands of The Greeks,
and Aeneas He'd, thus bcSinning that
] most perllous Journey hy the sea and
land. demanded by the oraoles OF the
| gods
We only propose 10 take this one nota-
| bile exception 10 the heroic character or
| Aencas. We remarked that Aeneas 1id not
| now come up to our idea OF ;hc model hero
| that Virgil made him appear We are
| not disposed to accept his extreme ''piciy'
his great reverence for the messages
| the gods were always sending hm-as
| sufficient excuse for his shameless, heart
| less descrtIon and flight from Queen DIDO.
| that most hospitahle Queen OF Carthage.
who received and welcomed him TO hcr
| kingdom when he Was sh'pwreckcd
| him IN his misfortunes, and fcll despe-
ratcly IN love with him; would have
shared her kingdom with him, while
Thus through the city Of her pride.
she walks Aencns at her side,
Displays the stores Of S.don'a trade.
| And stately homes already made.
| Aeneas manages 10 resist all tbs
| ahandOns the poor lovc-siCk queen 10
her fate and sets sail FOR an unknown
country, IN obedience as he snpposos,
to the viii OF the gods. Now this may
In Nrgil's day. but II certainly looks
very unhcrO-like 10 our modern eyes