The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-22
TODAY I'M HISTORY
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. 1910.
The Death of VIRGIL.


Today, in - B. c.. Virgil the greatest
among the poets Of anclent times. dlec
at BrundiSium, O town on the Adrlatlc'
He was buried AT Naples. where his tomb
was long regarded with religious Vener-
alton and visited as IL temple. Inat ven
Grafton was a survival of the feeling with
which he was held In his lifetime and Is
greater than what find attached 10
the actual memory Of any other ancient
poet, though the mystery connected with
the personality OF Homer excited
greater curiosity.
The secluson OF Virgils life touched
the imagination OF his countrymen as the
finer qualities Of his nature touched the
hearts OF his friends. The feeling which
tertained towards him seems justified by
the personal impression which he pro-
dpces on modern readers,
The old tomb OF Virgil lies to the south
west OF the city OF Naples, The poet, as
he himself informs us. here composed his
immortal works, the Georges and the
Aeneld, and he unquestionably possessed
villa on the Posllipo. and by his ex,-
press wish was Inferred here. Petrarch
is said to have visited this spot accom-
panied by King Robert. and TO have
planted a laurel which, at tne beginning
OF the nineteenth century, fell a prey TO
the knives Of relic hunters, and has since
been replaced, II is on record that IN
1926 the tomb was In good state OF
preservation. and contained marble urn
with nine small pillars, with an appro-
Driately inscribed frieze, No trace OF this
no" remains.
Virgils fame as poet rests on the
three acknowledged works of his early
and mature manhood-the pastoral poems
or Eclogues, the Georges ana the Aeneid.
He was born on the 10th OF October. 10
E. c.. on a farm on the banks of the
MIncio, In the district or Andes, not far
from the town OF Mantua. The scenery
familiar to his childhood. the green banks
and slow windings OF the Minclo and
the rich pastures in Its neighborhood.
he recalls with affection in several OF
his most important works. Like his
friend and contemporary, Horace he
sprung from the class OF yeomen whose
state he pronounces the happiest allotted
to man and most conducive to virtue and
plety.
Virgil fortunately possessed a father
who spared no pains In nourishing his
genius with the highest and richest cul-
ture then ohtainable In rne world, AT
cation TO Cremona. whittier he was ao-
companied by his father, and from which
place four years later. he removed to
Milan. and then TO Rome. Here ne re-
writing. until about middle life when he
longed for his beloved Naples. to which
he returned about 81 3, c., living chiefly
in that city or In country house in the
neighborhood of Nola. UP TO the time OF
his death.
The year of his death Virgil had set
out for Athens. intending to pass three
years in Greece and Asia, and TO de-
vote that time to perfecting the work
manship OF the Aeneid, While visiting
Megara, under burning sun, he was
seized with Illness, and, as he continued
his voyage without interruption, he grew
rapidly worse and died in his fifty-flrst
year,
Virgil's life was a singulnrly quiet and
uneventful one. He suffered much from
III health. but In all other respects was
fortunate. He counted among his friends
the most distinguished men of his day.
both in literature and political life. and
is said to have accumulated a consider
able fortune from the generosity OF his
patrons
Virgil never married. ana In contrast
TO most OF his contemporaries, his name
is associated with no love affair. nor
has his morality been seriously ques-
TONED. In appearance he is described by
Donatus as of large frame, a dark
and a rustic air. His most
remarkable characteristics seem to have
been modesty and gentleness. The prom
inence which came TO him early in life
was a genuine cause OF distress to him,
and he is said TO have taken refuge In
the nearest shop or doorway to avoid
what Horace glorlcd in. being pointed out
by the finger of the passerby.