Servius' Commentary on Book Four of Virgil's Aeneid

Rating:
Summary: An impressively annotated translation
Review: The collaborative academic effort of Christopher M. McDonough, Richard E. Prior and Mark Stansbury, Servius' Commentary On Book Four Of Virgil's Aeneid is an impressively annotated translation that presents the classic and widely read book four of Aeneid (the story of Dido and Aeneas) in English translation along with a translation of Servius' own detailed and renowned commentary. On the facing pages are the original Latin text and commentary. Notes further illuminate this excellent presentation for both classical literature and Latin language students.

Rating:
Summary: Fresh Perspective from a Classic Commentary
Review: The widely read story of Dido and Aeneas in Vergil's Book IV of the Aeneid brings up questions of love, duty, and honor. Yet while we are all familiar with modern comments on such elements as the cave scene, Rumor, and the future relationship between Romans and Carthaginians, Servius' commentary provides a look at the source of all these interpretations. This edition, offering flexibility while staying true to Vergil, would enrich any Aeneid class.

The book features the entire text of Book IV, with Servius' commentary below the lines of Vergil. Working by words or phrases, Servius provides detailed insight by clarifying meaning or citing other usages to suggest the many connotations of each word or phrase. In all his guidance, though, Servius stays true to Vergil, quoting most often from Book I of the Aeneid, followed by Book VI, Book II, and Book III. Infinitely more helpful than mere explanations, these constant comparisons to other passages from the Aeneid let readers draw their own insights from the text. Furthermore, when Servius quotes works other than the Aeneid, they are most often classics that Vergil would have read, rather than contemporaries of Servius. Indeed, the only authors cited more than five times in his Book IV commentary are Horace, Juvenal, Lucan, and Terence. Even in his own comments, Servius serves as a guide, helping readers find their own interpretation, rather than impressing his interpretation on others. For example, Servius helps us with this phrase from line 21, sparsos fraternal caede Penatis, "household gods were stained with his blood shed by a brother"(10). He writes, "if this refers to the household gods of Dido, we understand that they were scattered by flight; if it refers to those of her brother, then they were defiled by his blood"(11). The presentation of several possibilities leaves room for readers to develop their own interpretation.

Naturally, Servius' commentary is in its original Latin, but if the idea of translating a Latin commentary to help translate Vergil seems daunting, fear not! Each page of Latin text with commentary faces a page in English-the translation of both Servius' commentary and Vergil's lines. Besides the complete translation, the authors have provided us with a helpful introduction about the life of Servius and the textual tradition, including a complete list of the works and authors cited in Servius' commentary. Moreover, while Servius only credits the author for each quotation, this edition cites the work as well. We also have the advantage of endnotes on the commentary, giving definitions of words no longer in common usage or pointing to differences between Servius' translation and others'.

Thus, Servius' commentary contains a wealth of comparisons and possible interpretations. Students may especially benefit from the comparisons to passages from the first three books of the Aeneid, which they have already read. The real value comes from helping readers reach their own interpretations. Now, with a complete English translation and clear format, this new edition makes his commentary accessible to all classrooms. Any teacher would be able to supplement his or her teaching with insight drawn from this edition of Servius' Book IV commentary.