FRAGMENT. 251 



*' war thou art preparing,'* fays he to her, " and 

 •* if fuch is thy refolve :" 



Si bellare paras, atque hasc tibi mens eft. 



The total diforder of his frame terminates that 

 of his addrefs. Heated with the fire of love in the 

 arms of Fenus, he diflblves hke metal in the fur- 

 nace : 



Conjugis infufus gremio. 



Remark the accuracy of that metaphorical con- 

 fonance, infufus^ " difTolved," fo perfedlly adapted 

 to the God of the forges of Lemnos. At length, 

 he becomes completely infenfible. 



..placidumque petivit 

 .per membra ioporem. 



Sopor means a great deal more than ileep. It 

 farther prefents a confonance of the (late of metals 

 after their fufion, a total ftagnation. 



But in order to weaken the effeft, of what is li- 

 centious in this pidlure, and inconfiftent with con- 

 jugal manners, the fage Virgil oppofes, immedi- 

 ately after, to the Goddefs of voluptuoufnefs, re- 

 quefting, of her hufband, armour for her natural 

 fon, a matron chafte and poor, employed in the 

 arts of Minerva to rear her young ones ; and he 



applies 



