46 REMARKS on fome Pajfages of 



mentioned, which Rueus underftands to have taken place at 

 the very time when the Trojan and the Sybil were looking at 

 it. But that is a miftake. The Sybil only tells her compa- 

 nion, that, when Rhadamanthus has made the criminals con- 

 fefs their guilt, then at length {turn demum) the gate opens for 

 their reception into the place of torment. It is ftrange that 

 Rueus and Dr Warburton did not fee that this is the obvious 

 import of the words of Virgil ; and that, if we do not under- 

 ftand them in this fenfe, the paflage muft appear confufed, if 

 not ungrammatical. In a word ; of the infide of Tartarus the 

 Trojan hero faw nothing ; he faw the outfide only, the walls, 

 the gates, the tower of iron, &c. and thefe he faw at fome di- 

 flance. What was pafling within he learns from the Sybil's 

 information. 



u And now, fays (he, let us be going. Yonder, on the 

 " right hand, is the palace of Proferpine, where, in the vaulted 

 " porch that fronts us, we are commanded to depofit the golden 

 " bough." This ceremony Eneas performs, after having 

 fprinkled himfelf with pure water ; which was cuftomary with 

 thofe who made offerings to the gods. 



They then went onward to Elyfium, the gay fcenery of 

 which, immediately fucceeding the gloom of purgatory and the 

 horrors of Tartarus, is fo charming, that every reader feels 

 himfelf refrefhed by it. Here were groves, and plains, and 

 meadows, clothed with perpetual verdure, the abodes of tran- 

 quillity and joy, and illuminated by a fun and ftars of the 

 molt refulgent beauty. Here were feafting, and dancing, and 

 mufic, and poets accompanying their verfes with the harmony 

 of the lyre. Here thofe warlike exercifes were renewed, in 

 which the heroes while on earth had fo much delighted ; and 

 here were horfes, and chariots, and arms, and every thing that 

 could gratify an heroic mind. It muft be owned, that all this 

 is very inadequate to the defires and the capacity of an immortal 



foul : 



